Fri Sep 20 12:44:36 UTC 2024: ## Team USA Water Polo Star Maggie Steffens Reflects on Sister-in-Law’s Tragic Death, Prioritizes Family and Gratitude
**PARIS, FRANCE** – Olympic water polo star Maggie Steffens is mourning the loss of her sister-in-law, Lulu Conner, who tragically died at the age of 26 while en route to cheer her on at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Conner suffered a medical emergency on July 23rd.
Steffens, married to Conner’s brother Bobby, has been grappling with the loss alongside her family. “She was a go-getter, and she made everyone around her smile,” Steffens told People magazine. “So Bobby and I have been trying to live like Lu every day and really focus on that.”
The 31-year-old athlete described Conner as the “little sister that I never got to have,” a bond that deepened after her wedding to Bobby in November 2023.
Despite the overwhelming grief, Steffens has found solace in the love and support of her family. “We’re really lucky that we’re still here and we get to feel her every day and honor her and be together with family,” she said.
The passing of Conner occurred just before the Paris Olympics, where Team USA’s women’s water polo team, including Steffens, did not win a medal.
Reflecting on the Games and the subsequent period of healing, Steffens shared on Instagram, “With the weight & heaviness Paris presented personally, I suppressed a lot of grief, sadness, & guilt during the Olympics… but now that we’re home and I’ve stopped moving a bit – the door is wide open.”
Steffens, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is now prioritizing time with her husband, family, and friends, embracing the “gift of life” and focusing on gratitude and love.
First Piper 