Olympian Maggie Steffens’ sister-in-law, 26, dies after travelling to Paris for Games

U.S. h2o polo skipper Maggie Steffens is playing pinch a dense bosom astatine the Paris Olympics after her sister-in-law died a mates days earlier nan Games began.

Lulu Conner, 26, died Tuesday aft travelling to Paris to cheer connected Steffens arsenic she goes for a 4th consecutive golden badge pinch nan U.S. team. The family is still piecing together what happened, but Steffens described nan business arsenic “a aesculapian emergency.”

“She was truthful excited for nan Olympic Games,” a teary Steffens told The Associated Press. “We’re really close. She’s nan ray of nan world. She conscionable brings truthful overmuch joyousness to everyone. She ever brings group together.”

Steffens scored 2 goals while playing 21 1/2 minutes arsenic nan U.S. hit Greece 15-6 connected nan first time of nan women’s tourney connected Saturday. She is nan highest scoring female successful Olympic history pinch 58 goals.

“It decidedly helps to play,” Steffens said. “I’m for illustration truthful retired of assemblage successful a measurement correct now. And I conscionable support trying to punctual myself what Lulu would want and really she would be, you know, really tin I embody her tone nan best. And Lulu was personification that she gave 150% to everything she did.”

Steffens, 31, married Bobby Conner in Puerto Rico successful November. Lulu, his sister, was an creator and UC Davis grad. She made her ain type of Flavor Flav’s USA Water Polo clock for nan Olympics.

While Steffens was connected nan American vessel for nan opening ceremony connected Friday night, she dropped a mini bouquet of flowers into nan Seine River successful remembrance.

“It’s going to beryllium a really difficult mates weeks for each of us,” she said. “My squad has been a really large support strategy for me. I’ve been evidently really struggling, and my hubby arsenic well, and his full family. I mean, it’s a nightmare, and it’s wholly shocking. But I deliberation conscionable emotion her tone present is, for illustration I said, it’s amazing. And I dream that we tin make her proud each azygous day.”

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The decease correct earlier nan Olympics was reminiscent of nan 2016 Games, erstwhile coach Adam Krikorian mislaid his brother, Blake, and went location to beryllium pinch his family before returning successful clip for nan team’s first crippled successful Rio de Janeiro.

It was each excessively acquainted for Krikorian.

“You cognize erstwhile it happens, it’s for illustration each nan emotions travel pouring backmost to you,” he said. “You mightiness not consciousness these emotions that often, but past they conscionable travel rushing back.”

“You conscionable show her emotion and support,” he continued. “You cognize it’s important that she’s location for Bobby and his family arsenic well. This is simply a difficult clip for them, and springiness her immoderate state to beryllium capable to walk immoderate clip pinch them I deliberation is enormously important.”