Current:Home > NewsTeam USA Water Polo Star Maggie Steffens' Sister-in-Law Dies After Traveling to Paris Olympics-LoTradeCoin
Team USA Water Polo Star Maggie Steffens' Sister-in-Law Dies After Traveling to Paris Olympics
View Date:2024-12-23 19:34:53
Maggie Steffen’s family is mourning a devastating loss.
The Olympic U.S. Water Polo team captain’s sister-in-law Lulu Conner died July 23 after traveling to Paris for the Games, Maggie confirmed to the Associated Press. Lulu was 26.
According to the outlet, Maggie—who married Lulu’s brother Bobby Conner in November—shared that she and her family are still determining exactly what happened, but that she described the situation as “a medical emergency.”
“She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Maggie told the AP of Lulu. “We’re really close. She’s the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together.”
E! News has reached out to Maggie’s rep and the U.S. women’s water polo team for comment but has not yet heard back.
For Maggie, who is participating in her fourth Olympics at Paris and is aiming to bring home a fourth Gold medal, she said that refocusing her energy into the Games has been a comfort in the wake of the tragedy.
“It definitely helps to play,” the 31-year-old, who scored her 58th Olympic goal in her game July 27, making her the highest scoring woman in Olympic history, added. “I’m like so out of body in a way right now. And I just keep trying to remind myself what Lulu would want and how she would be, you know, how can I embody her spirit the best. And Lulu was somebody that she gave 150% to everything she did.”
And in a sweet tribute to Lulu, Maggie dropped a bouquet of flowers into the River Seine from Team USA’s boat during the July 26 Opening Ceremony.
“It’s going to be a really hard couple weeks for all of us,” Maggie admitted to the AP. “My team has been a really big support system for me. I’ve been obviously really struggling, and my husband as well, and his entire family. It’s a nightmare, and it’s completely shocking.”
She continued, “But I think just feeling her spirit here—it’s amazing. And I hope that we can make her proud every single day.”
But as Maggie continues in her 2024 Olympic journey, she has a huge support system behind her—including in head coach Adam Krikorian, whose own brother died shortly before the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“You just show her love and support,” Adam told the AP. “You know it’s important that she’s there for Bobby and his family as well. This is a difficult time for them, and give her some freedom to be able to spend some time with them I think is enormously important.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (16)
Related
- Mike Tyson employs two trainers who 'work like a dream team' as Jake Paul fight nears
- 2 pilots dead after planes crashed at Nevada air racing event, authorities say
- Hearings in $1 billion lawsuit filed by auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn against Nissan starts in Beirut
- The strike by auto workers is entering its 4th day with no signs that a breakthrough is near
- Kentucky gets early signature win at Champions Classic against Duke | Opinion
- UAW strike day 4: GM threatens to send 2,000 workers home, Ford cuts 600 jobs
- Kosovo’s prime minister blames EU envoy for the failure of recent talks with Serbia
- 2 adults, 2 children found shot to death in suburban Chicago home
- Joan says 'Yes!' to 'Golden Bachelorette' finale fantasy beach proposal. Who did she pick?
- Chevron says Australian LNG plant is back to full production after 3 days at 80% output
Ranking
- Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
- Travis Kelce Playfully Reacts to His NFL Family's Taylor Swift Puns
- Newborn baby found dead in restroom at New Mexico hospital, police investigation underway
- The Red Cross: Badly needed food, medicine shipped to Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region
- NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison dies at 86
- '60 Minutes' producer Bill Owens revamps CBS News show with six 90-minute episodes this fall
- Military searches near South Carolina lakes for fighter jet whose pilot safely ejected
- Bioluminescent waves light up Southern California's coastal waters
Recommendation
-
Fighting conspiracy theories with comedy? That’s what the Onion hopes after its purchase of Infowars
-
5 people shot, including 2 juveniles, in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood
-
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez Officially File for Divorce After 2 Years of Marriage
-
Judge to hold hearing on ex-DOJ official’s request to move Georgia election case to federal court
-
Disruptions to Amtrak service continue after fire near tracks in New York City
-
Two arrested in fentanyl-exposure death of 1-year-old at Divino Niño daycare
-
Chevron says Australian LNG plant is back to full production after 3 days at 80% output
-
Is avocado oil good for you? Everything you need to know about this trendy oil.