Lulu Conner, Maggie Steffens’ sister-in-law, dies after travelling to Paris to cheer her on

Team USA’s women’s water polo captain, Maggie Steffens, is dealing with personal tragedy as she bids to lead the Stars and Stripes to a fourth straight Olympic crown. Her sister-in-law, Lulu Conner, died in Paris in the days before the Games, having Travelled to France to cheer Steffens on.

Confirming Conner’s death, Steffens told the Associated Press that the 26-year-old had passed away after a “medical emergency”.

Steffens mourns loss of “light of the world”

“She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Steffens told 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.”

Steffens added that she had paid tribute to Conners during the Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday, by dropping a bouquet of flowers into the river Seine. “I’ve been obviously really struggling, and my husband as well, and his entire family,” she said. “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.”

“It helps to play”

Steffens, who helped the USA to gold at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympics, scored twice as the Americans began their 2024 campaign with a 15-16 win over Greece on Saturday. In their second fixture in the preliminary round, the USA face Spain today (9:35 a.m. ET/6:35 a.m. PT).

“It definitely helps to play,” Steffens told AP. “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.”

On Sunday, the rapper Flavor Flav, a water polo fan who is in France to watch the action, shared a video in which Conner’s brother - Steffen’s husband, Bobby Conner - gave him a clock necklace that Lulu had made for the artist. “IMMA be wearing a VERY SPECIAL second clock for the duration of the Olympics and more,” Flavor Flav said. “MADE WITH LOVE BY ARTIST LULU CONNER.”

A second clock is used to count the 30-second period that water polo teams are allowed between receiving possession and taking a shot at goal.

“Maggie knows my pain and sorrow” - USA coach

This is not the first time that tragedy has struck the USA women’s water polo team at an Olympics. During Rio 2016, the brother of head coach Adam Krikorian died of a heart attack while surfing.

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle in the wake of Conner’s death, Krikorian said: “It’s not something you’re ever prepared for. Maggie knows my pain and sorrow - I’ve shared that with her. The pain and shock are the things that stick out.”