Vermont native Ilona Maher to compete in Paris Olympic Games [Video]

THE 20-24 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPICS ARE LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY… AS ONE ATHLETE FROM VERMONT… IS WORKING TOWARDS THE PODIUM FINISH…. SHE WASN’T ABLE TO GRAB IN TOKYO N-B-C FIVES NOAH CIERZAN CAUGHT UP WITH BURLINGTON’S ILONA MAHER TO TALK ABOUT THE ROAD TO PARIS. <ILLONA MAHER/UNITED STATES OLYMPIC RUGBY PLAYER, “WHENEVER I COME HOME TO BURLINGTON ITS KIND OF LIKE A RESET, I CALL IT.”> BEING BACK HOME…. A CHANCE TO REPLENISH AND REJUVENATE FOR BURLINGTON NATIVE ILONA MAHER…. AS THE U-S RUGBY STAR CONTINUES REHABBING A BROKEN ANKLE SHE SUFFERED IN TRAINING FOUR MONTHS AGO <ILLONA MAHER/UNITED STATES OLYMPIC RUGBY PLAYER, “WELL I THINK THE HARDEST PART IS WATCHING YOUR TEAMMATES GET BETTER AND WATCHING THEM RUN AROUND AND GET FITTER AND GET FASTER AND GET MORE SKILLED AND YOU’RE THERE LEARNING TO WALK AGAIN.”> LIKE THE CHALLENGES SHE FACED GETTING TO HER FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES IN …