What can’t the New York Marathon accomplish in just one day? It has the magic to transform the streets of New York City’s five boroughs, pack them with thousands of runners and supporters, and create stories that stick. Imagine this: the reigning Olympic champ and last year’s record-holder leaving without a podium finish, an Olympic legend standing on the sidelines and questioning her confidence, and, in an unexpected twist, an Olympic medalist stepping in as a ‘confidence coach’ to save the day. Yep, that’s Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Thomas and Ilona Maher we’re talking about. But where did all this “confidence coaching” come from?

On November 3, Gabby Thomas and Ilona Maher were both part of the marathon, playing unique roles. Thomas, the three-time Olympic champ, was the Grand Marshal of the event, while Maher, the rugby sevens star, rocked up as a “Confidence Coach,” representing Maybelline. Her mission? Maher explained it best in a pre-race interview: “I am going to cheer everybody on. Whatever you’re doing, whether you’re wheelchair racing, you’re one of the pro athletes, you’re one of the in one of the waves, I’m ready to cheer you on and make you feel confident in what you’re doing because you should be confident.” So, what was the outcome?

In the finishing line, Ilona Maher was seen cheering Gabby Thomas. No, the athlete wasn’t running in the race. Rather, as the Grand Marshal, she was holding the ribbon in the finishing line at Central Park. But to carry out this job, Gabby Thomas needed confidence. In her Instagram story, she admitted that part.

On November 3, Gabby Thomas shared a series of visuals to Instagram stories, framing her moments in the New York Marathon 2024. In one of those, Thomas shared a snap holding the ribbon at the finishing line. However, in the caption, she wrote, “I needed this I was so nervous.” And guess who came as her soul-saver! Ilona Maher with her jersey on as the Confidence Coach of the day! But don’t put down your interest so soon as the duo has something more in the bag.

In her post-race social media share, Gabby Thomas put another snap with a thoughtful question. The question remained, “Should @ilonamaher and I run a marathon?” However, she left just two options for the rugby star to choose her answer from: “Heck yes” and “Stick to your sports.” The options were limited, but it failed to limit Maher’s wit. The Olympian came back with a hilarious answer in no time. 

While replying, Ilona applied the same trick. Just like Gabby, she shared her Instagram story to continue the exchange. There, while re-sharing Gabby’s snap, the Burlington wonder penned, “That would be terrible but also hilarious.” Did that end the funny wordplay between those two Olympians? Yes, for as of now. But fans may keep their fingers crossed to see Gabby Thomas and Ilona Maher running in a marathon one day. Everything is possible when these two are around. A proof of it? On race day, Gabby Thomas shared something invaluable about promoting the marathon’s vibe. And Ilona? She continued to do what she does best—attract the catch of the day. 

Gabby Thomas and Ilona Maher narrate their bold reasons to feature in the New York Marathon 

In her pre-race message, Ilona Maher claimed, “I’m gonna be there for you.” In the meantime, she didn’t dishearten anyone. At the race, she mingled with correspondents such as Ali Feller before engaging in conversation with Gabby Librizzi, the well-known oncologist. She made herself the ordinary someone who appeared in the New York Marathon as a fan. On the other hand, Gabby Thomas felt satisfied with her role as the Grand Marshal of the 53rd edition. After the race, she tried to put her thoughts on the marathon into her words. 

In the post-race update, Gabby said, “Running is so much more than just a sport- it taught me about discipline, resilience, and finding joy in pushing limits. This marathon brings people together from all backgrounds and communities through the transformative power of running, and I was able to witness that today.”