The 26-year-old sister-in-law of U.S. water polo captain Maggie Steffens died Tuesday, just days before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
Lulu Conner, who died due to “a medical emergency,” traveled to Paris to watch Steffens compete for her fourth gold medal, according to The Associated Press.
“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,” Steffens told the AP, adding that Lulu was “so excited” for the Olympics. Steffens also said that her team has been “a really big support” since Lulu’s death.
Lulu was an artist and a graduate of the University of California, Davis. She had made clock necklaces for members of the women’s water polo team, People Magazine reported. Lulu also made one for the team’s official hype man, rapper Flava Flav.
“Imma be wearing a VERY SPECIAL second clock for the duration of the Olympics and more,,,
MADE WITH LOVE BY ARTIST LULU CONNER,” Flav, who signed a five-year sponsorship deal for the team, wrote on X after Bobby Conner, Lulu’s brother, gave him the necklace.
Bobby Conner and the three-time Olympic gold medalist got married in November 2023.
The Los Angeles Times said Wednesday that Steffens, who has won five world championships and is the leading Olympic goal-scorer, is the “greatest women’s water polo player of all time.”
The U.S. women’s water polo team beat Greece 15-6 on Friday. Next, the team is set to play Spain on Monday.
“It definitely helps to play,” Steffens told the 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.”
