2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist, and Burlington High School (BHS) alum Ilona Maher is returning home to Burlington this weekend! The community is invited to celebrate her success at 10 AM at Battery Park on Saturday.

Maher will be recognized by Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak as well as by her former field hockey coach Allyson Archacki. Maher will also receive the “Keys to the BHS Athletic Fields” before speaking to the crowd.

“We are really excited to be able to welcome Ilona Maher home and show her how proud we are of her accomplishments,” said Burlington School District Superintendent Tom Flanagan. “Her success both on and off the rugby pitch is a testament to her character and work ethic and a great example for all of us.”

Ilona Maher graduated from Burlington High School in 2014. During her time at BHS she played softball, basketball, field hockey, and, of course, rugby. At the 2024 Olympic Games, Ilona Maher was a major reason that the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens took home the Bronze Medal. The medal is the first for the U.S. in rugby sevens for men or women, and the first U.S. medal in rugby in 100 years.

The event will kick off with the playing of the National Anthem by local trumpet legend Larry Solt and end with a ceremonial cake-cutting. All Vermonters are invited to welcome Ilona Maher home and celebrate her success.

The event will be held rain or shine.

At the 2024 Olympics in Paris and environs, three Vermonters participated: Maher,1500M runner Elle St. Pierre (8th in finals), and in the men’s-pair rowing Bill Bender, who placed 10th.

In the world of athletics, few stories are as uniquely Vermont as a dairy farmer turned elite runner Elle St. Pierre. Born and raised on a dairy farm in Montgomery, Vermont, this athlete’s journey to the Olympic stage is a testament to hard work and determination. She discovered her talent for running at age 11, when she outran her father in a footrace. Despite her initial disinterest in long-distance running, a high school coach saw her potential and encouraged her to join the track team.

Her upbringing on a farm instilled a strong work ethic, which she seamlessly translated into her athletic career. “You work until the job gets done, not until you get tired,” she says, drawing parallels between farming and running. This philosophy has propelled her to impressive heights, including a 10th place finish in the 1500m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and a gold medal in the 3000m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, where she set a U.S. record.

Balancing her roles as an athlete and a mother, she has defied expectations by continuing to compete at the highest levels after giving birth to her son, Ivan, in 2023. Her achievements are a testament to the changing landscape for female athletes, as she and others break barriers and redefine what’s possible.

Her inspiration comes from her roots, particularly an old sugarhouse built by her great-great-grandfather on her family’s farm. This connection to her heritage fuels her drive both on the track and in her advocacy for the dairy industry. Even after her family exited the dairy business, she remains a vocal supporter, often reminiscing about the cows from her childhood.

At BHS, Maher she was a multi-sport athlete, playing hockey, basketball, and softball. However, at 17, she found her true passion in rugby, a sport she had known about since childhood thanks to her father’s involvement in promoting it at Saint Michael’s College. Reflecting on her decision, she recalled attending touch-flag rugby matches as a child but only fully embraced the sport during her high school years.

Rugby captivated her because it combined elements from all the sports she loved. “It allows me to use my body the way I think it was intended,” she explained, noting how the sport seemed to click with her from the start.

Her admiration for athletic excellence extends to tennis legend Serena Williams, whose 23 Grand Slam singles titles and Olympic victories inspire her.

She gained unexpected fame at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics through a series of TikTok videos that offered an authentic glimpse into life in the Olympic Village. Her candid and humorous take resonated with audiences, earning her coverage in major outlets like the New York Times and Time Magazine. She believed the videos struck a chord because they showed Olympians as relatable humans, not just athletes on a pedestal.

Beyond sports, she is a dedicated registered nurse in California, drawn to the profession by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. She values the compassion and genuine care nursing requires, striving to embody those qualities in all aspects of her life.

Bill Bender, from Norwich, representing the United States in the men’s pair rowing event, finished in 10th place.

Bender, a multifaceted athlete and student, balances his time between rigorous training and academic pursuits. An engineering student at Dartmouth University, Bender’s journey into rowing began at Hanover High School, inspired by his older brother Ryan and their neighbor, Blair Brooks, who coached the sport.

Bender’s passion for rowing led him to the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, where he made his debut in the coxless pairs, finishing a commendable fifth. His rowing journey is closely tied to the California Rowing Club in Oakland, where he hones his skills.

Outside of rowing, Bender enjoys an array of outdoor activities, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, water skiing, and hiking. His family, including his father Bill, mother Mary, and brother Ryan, have been a constant source of support.

Bender’s partnership with fellow Dartmouth alum Oliver Bub proved successful when they clinched victory at the US selection trials in Sarasota, Florida, in April 2024. Despite not overlapping at Dartmouth, their shared experience with the same coaching system fostered a strong synergy, allowing them to quickly gel as a team after being cut from the eights squad.

As a first-time Olympian, Bender continues to push the boundaries of his athletic career, driven by the same determination that has defined his journey from high school rowing to the world stage.