Image Credit: AFP through Getty Images
What a minute for Maggie Steffens at the #OpeningCeremony
She drops flowers into the Seine from the Team USA boat to honor a late member of the family & #x 2764; & #xfe 0f; pic.twitter.com/G1TPAKqc6q
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) July 26, 2024
Maggie Steffens and her household experienced a heartbreaking loss before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris.
On Tuesday, July 23, Lulu Conner– the Olympic U.S. Water Polo group captains sister-in-law– passed away at 26 after taking a trip to the city to support Steffens as she competes for a fourth successive gold medal with the U.S. group.
According to the Associated Press, Maggie– who married Lulus sibling Bobby Conner in November– shared that she and her family are still figuring out exactly what occurred, but described the circumstance as “a medical emergency.”
” She was so fired up for the Olympic Games,” a teary Steffens informed the outlet. “Were truly close. Shes the light of the world. She simply brings so much happiness to everybody. She always brings individuals together.”
Lulu Conner was an artist– she made her own variation of Flavor Flavs USA Water Polo clock for the Olympics– a UC Davis grad, and one of 3 siblings.
Imma be wearing a VERY SPECIAL second clock throughout of the Olympics and more,,, MADE WITH LOVE BY ARTIST LULU CONNER & #x 1faf6; & #x 1f3fe; pic.twitter.com/vNzDhteicS
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) July 28, 2024
In a sweet homage to Lulu, Maggie dropped an arrangement of flowers into the River Seine from Team USAs boat during the July 26 Opening Ceremony.
As Maggie continues in her 2024 Olympic journey, she has a substantial assistance system behind her– consisting of head coach Adam Krikorian, whose own sibling passed away shortly before the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
” You just show her love and support,” Adam described to the Associated Press. “You understand its essential that shes there for Bobby and his household. This is a difficult time for them, and offer her some liberty to be able to invest a long time with them I think is enormously crucial.”
” Its going to be a really tough couple of weeks for everybody,” Maggie confessed. “My group has been a truly big support group for me. Ive been obviously really having a hard time, and my husband too, and his whole family. Its a headache, and its completely stunning.”
She continued, “But I think simply feeling her spirit here– its remarkable. And I hope that we can make her happy each and every single day.”
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” She was so ecstatic for the Olympic Games,” a teary Steffens informed the outlet. And I just keep trying to remind myself what Lulu would want and how she would be. Lulu was someone who gave 150% to whatever she did.”
” Its going to be a really hard couple of weeks for all of us,” Maggie admitted. “My team has actually been a really big assistance system for me.
” It certainly helps to play,” Steffens stated. “Im like so out of body in a manner today. And I just keep trying to remind myself what Lulu would desire and how she would be. How can I embody her spirit the best? Lulu was somebody who offered 150% to everything she did.”
The 31-year-old scored 2 objectives while playing 21 1/2 minutes as the U.S. beat Greece 15-6 on the very first day of the ladiess competition on Saturday. She is the highest-scoring woman in Olympic history with 58 goals.
