U.S. Water Polo Star Maggie Steffens Coping with Death of Sister-In-Law at Olympics
U.S. women’s water polo star Maggie Steffens is playing with a heavy heart in Paris after the unexpected death of her sister-in-law.
Lulu Conner died last Tuesday after a medical emergency in Paris after traveling there to the Games. The sister of Steffens’ husband, Bobby Conner, was 26 years old.
“She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Steffens told the Associated Press. “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 attended UC Davis and worked as an artist. She brought a clock that included Steffens’ picture as a gift for U.S. water polo booster Flavor Flav to wear during the Olympics.
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Steffens, the all-time leading scorer among women in Olympic water polo competition, has played in both of the Americans’ matches in Paris, a win over Greece to open group play and a loss on Monday to Spain.
Steffens memorialized Conner by dropping a small bouquet of flowers into the River Seine from the U.S. boat during Friday’s Opening Ceremonies.
“It definitely helps to play,” Steffens said. “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.”
Steffens is vying to help the U.S. win gold for the fourth straight Games. She’s the only member of the team to have been part of the squad for each of the last three Olympics.
USA water polo has experience with tragedy before an Olympics, with coach Adam Krikorian losing his brother, Blake, just before the 2016 Olympics. It proved a galvanizing event for the group, which is immensely close. Many of Steffens’ closest friends are on the team, and it’s a group that has endured personal and professional heartache through their decade on top of the world.
“It’s going to be a really hard couple weeks for all of us,” Steffens said. “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. 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.”