The captain of the U.S. water polo team, Maggie Steffens, is dealing with a loss in the family ahead of competing in her fourth Olympics. It has been announced that Steffens' husband Bobby Conner's younger sister Lulu passed away after a "medical emergency" in Paris.
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The Team USA athlete spoke on this to the Associated Press.
"She was so excited for the Olympic Games," Maggie said about Lulu, who was only 26 years old. "We're really close. She's the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together."
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Steffens, who is attempting to help Team USA win their fourth consecutive water polo gold medal, also noted that playing the sport has helped her cope with the loss of a loved one. That is to say, she scored two goals vs. Greece (15-6) on July 27, and now with 58 Olympic goals, the 31-year-old is the highest goal scorer in Olympic history.
"It definitely helps to play," the three-time defending gold medalist stated. "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."
To note, Lulu was an artist and was well connected to the team, as she actually made a custom version of the USA Water Polo clock that the team's hype man Flavor Flav wore around his neck.
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Maggie Steffens (left); Flavor Flav (right)
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Steffens paid tribute to Lulu during the opening ceremony on the Seine river, as she dropped a bouquet of flowers into the water in remembrance of her sister-in-law.
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"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."
Related: Flavor Flav Bringing The Noise After Being Named Hype Man For US Women's Water Polo Team
