Maher gained millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok as the USA secured bronze in Paris in a dramatic fashion last month. Aoki, 33, has recently utilised Instagram to create excitement for the Paralympics and is part of Team USA's content creator program, which offers fans behind-the-scenes access to the Games.

"I think Ilona's a role model I really look up to. She really took it upon herself to build the brand of her sport which wasn't very well known," Aoki told AFP. "The power of social media is that you can go out, you don't have to wait for social media to come to you, you just have to go out and do it.

"I've tried to embrace the same ethos and mantra that she has. She's someone who has been amazingly successful and is someone I look up to," he added about the 28-year-old.

Aoki and the US began their Paris 2024 campaign for the sport, also known as 'murderball' due to its brutal collisions, on Thursday with a 51-48 victory over Canada. Sarah Adams scored six points, making her the first woman to play wheelchair rugby for the US Eagles at a Paralympic Games.

"I'm unbelievably proud of Sarah. She's worked so hard for this moment; she deserves all her plaudits, all her glory; it was a tremendous game by her," Aoki said. "I thought she played fantastically on her debut. There's nothing that can prepare you for that sort of atmosphere and she rose to the occasion," he added.

As a child, Aoki was diagnosed with hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy, a rare genetic disorder that affects sensation in his hands and feet. He is competing in his fourth Paralympics, having made his debut in 2012, where more than 7,000 spectators witnessed the US winning a bronze medal.

"We haven't felt this energy and excitement since London 2012," Aoki said after thousands watched their victory over Canada. London 2012 was wonderful but this feels like we've created a movement globally. This really feels like it's from all across the world. It feels like we’re experiencing something in Paris," he added.

Aoki has paused his PhD studies in international relations at the University of Denver to prepare for Paris 2024. I like to know what's going on in the world," Aoki said. "I will admit the last four months I have kind of shut down on that and I've had my eyes on Paris," he added.

The main obstacles to Aoki securing a gold medal, which would be the US's first since 2008, are likely to be defending champions Britain, world champions Australia, and Japan. Despite their opponents' strong track records, Aoki is confident about the Eagles' chances of improving on their silver medals from Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

"I don't fear anybody," he said. "But I respect the hell out of my opponents."