Maggie Steffens is in mourning after the sudden death of her sister-in-law, who came Paris to watch the water polo Olympian compete in the 2024 Summer Games.
Steffens, a three-time gold medalist, confirmed the news to the Associated Press on July 28. She said Lulu Conner, Steffens’ husband Bobby Conner’s younger sister, died at 26 following a “medical emergency.” Reps for the U.S. women’s water polo team did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Steffens told the AP. “We’re really close. She’s the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together.”
Lulu Conner/Instagram
Steffens, who married Bobby in November 2023, told the AP that she dropped a bouquet of the flowers into the Seine during the opening ceremony on July 26 to honor Lulu.
“My team has been a really big support system for me,” she told the outlet of grappling with the shocking loss. “I’ve been obviously really struggling, and my husband as well, and his entire family. I mean, it’s a nightmare, and it’s completely shocking. But I think just feeling her spirit here is, like I said, it’s amazing. And I hope that we can make her proud every single day.”
Kaelin Mendez/Getty
The women’s coach Adam Krikorian told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was told “‘Lulu was full of energy, and so excited to be here and watch this team.” They will now “honor her by playing with energy.”
Women’s water polo preliminary rounds began on Saturday, July 27, with the U.S. beating Greece 15-6. They’ll next play Spain on July 29.
During the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Steffens told PEOPLE that finding unity with her teammates always helps her through difficult times. “Alone there are a lot of things you can’t do, but together the impossible seems possible. It’s all about the circle, it’s all about the team and knowing at the end of the day all of our hands are in,” she said at the time.
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