U.S. water polo star Maggie Steffens' sister-in-law dies after traveling to Paris to cheer her on
U.S. water polo captain Maggie Steffens is playing with a heavy heart at the Paris Olympics after her sister-in-law died a couple days before the Games began.
Lulu Conner, 26, died Tuesday after traveling to Paris to cheer on Steffens as she goes for a fourth consecutive gold medal with the U.S. team. The family is still piecing together what happened, but Steffens described the situation as “a medical emergency.”
“She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” a teary 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.”
Steffens scored two goals while playing 21 1/2 minutes as the U.S. beat Greece 15-6 on the first day of the women’s tournament yesterday. She is the highest-scoring woman in Olympic history, with 58 goals.
“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, 31, married Bobby Conner in Puerto Rico in November. Lulu was an artist — she made her own version of Flavor Flav’s USA Water Polo clock for the Olympics — a UC Davis grad and one of three siblings.
While she was on the American boat for the opening ceremony Friday night, Steffens dropped a small bouquet of flowers into the Seine River in remembrance.
“It’s going to be a really hard couple weeks for all of us,” she 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.”
The death right before the Olympics was reminiscent of the 2016 Games, when coach Adam Krikorian lost his brother, Blake, and went home to be with his family before returning in time for the team’s first game in Rio de Janeiro.
It was all too familiar for Krikorian.
“You know when it happens, it’s like all the emotions come pouring back to you,” he said. “You might not feel these emotions that often, but then they just come rushing back.”
“You just show her love and support,” he continued. “You know it’s important that she’s there for Bobby and his family, as well. This is a difficult time for them, and give her some freedom to be able to spend some time with them I think is enormously important.”
Fencing: Kiefer defends gold, Scruggs makes history
The USA’s Lee Kiefer has defended her title, taking gold in women’s individual foil, 15-6, at the Grand Palais.
The three-time Olympian was fencing against fellow American Lauren Scruggs, a first-time Olympian who took silver. Scruggs has made history, becoming the first Black fencer from the U.S. to win an individual medal in the women's event.
As for Kiefer, only two women have successfully defended their fencing titles previously, in 1936 and 1940.
Scruggs took a few early points, but once Kiefer, the defending gold medalist and world No. 1, pulled away, there looked like only one winner. When Kiefer got the final point, the pair embraced, and both swaddled themselves in American flags.
Torri Huske's growing list of accomplishemnts
Torri Huske, the 100-meter butterfly gold medalist, is leaving her mark on U.S. swimming history.
She's now a two-time medalist, adding to a silver she won three years ago in Tokyo in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
Her triumph in this event was the first by an American since the legendary Dana Vollmer's gold medal win in 2012.
Before tonight, American women had gone 1-2 in the 100 butterfly twice. Huske and Gretchen Walsh followed in the strokes of Shelley Mann and Nancy Ramey in 1956 and Mary T. Meagher and Jenna Johnson in 1984.
Silver for Nic Fink
The USA's Nic Fink ties for silver in the men's 100-meter breaststroke with Great Britain's Adam Peaty. Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi won gold.
Soccer: U.S. leads 3-1 in first half against well-matched German team
The American women's team has played an impressive first half against Germany, leading 3-1 at the end of the first half.
Sophia Smith scored two goals, showcasing that impressive offensive drive that makes her a crowd favorite. There's also been impressive ball handling from the U.S. team, particularly as Rose Lavelle, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman keep pressure on their German opponents.
Germany has played a commendable game, as well, taking just two fewer shots than the Americans. The Germans must take back the momentum and fight for possession in the second half if they want a chance at winning against the persistent pressure on their end of the field.
Murphy on to 100-meter backstroke finals
The USA's Ryan Murphy has advanced to the men's 100-meter backstroke finals.
Léon Marchand: Thank you, people of France
People of France, Léon Marchand heard your cheers, loud and clear.
The 400 IM gold medalist, while focused like a laser in winning the grueling race, said he couldn't help but to be inspired by fans cheering rhythmically each time his head popped out of the water during the breaststroke.
"The breaststroke was insane, because I could hear whole stadium, so that was amazing to do," he told NBC, wearing the gold around his neck.
The race was a dream come true for the 22-year-old.
"I think it’s a dream for every one of us," he said. "I got the chance to do it today. That was amazing. I don’t know how to describe it."
Soccer: Sophia Smith scores again; U.S. leads 3-1
The U.S. is widening its lead as the first half nears an end as Sophia Smith hits the ball in a lucky goal.
She shot relatively far from the goal, but the ball hit the goal post and spun right passed the German goalkeeper into the back of the net.
On the podium they were both No. 1
Before "The Star-Spangled Banner" played and the American flag raised, 100-meter butterfly gold medalist Torri Huske made sure she wasn't alone on top of the podium.
Silver medalist and fellow American Gretchen Walsh joined her on the top step for the celebration.
They joyously clasped and raised hands moments after "home of the brave."
Zambia played in the highest-scoring women's soccer games in Olympic history
Today's match between Zambia and Australia, which the Matildas won 6-5, was the second-highest-scoring women's game in Olympic history.
Zambia played in the highest-scoring game at the Tokyo Games just a few years ago, losing 10-3 to the Netherlands. Unlike last time, Zambia put in quite the fight and forced Australia to recover in the second half.
The third-ranked game was also during the 2020 Olympics, when the Netherlands beat China 8-2.
Women's soccer made its Olympics debut just shy of 30 years ago at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.