Team USA water polo star Maggie Steffen suffered a loss ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics after a beloved family member made the trip to Paris, suffered a “medical emergency,” and died.

The Olympic water polo star’s sister-in-law, 26-year-old Lulu Conner, died on July 23 after traveling to cheer on Steffen ahead of the Paris Olympics, the Associated Press reported.

“She [Conner] was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Steffen said. “We’re really close. She’s the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together.”

Maggie, who’s participating in her fourth Olympics at Paris, said she’s been trying to focus on the games but knows it’s going to be really hard for their family going forward.

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“It definitely helps to play,” Steffen 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.”

“It’s going to be a really hard couple weeks for all of us,” she added. “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. It’s a nightmare, and it’s completely shocking.”

“But I think just feeling her spirit here—it’s amazing,” the Team USA Captain continued. “And I hope that we can make her proud every single day.”

On Saturday, Steffen scored two goals, making her the highest scoring woman in Olympic history with 58 goals, the AP noted.

During the Olympics opening ceremony, Steffen dropped a floral bouquet in the Siene River in Lulu’s remembrance.

The death right before the games harkened back to when Maggie’s own coach Adam Krikorian lost his brother Blake ahead of the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, E! News noted.

“You know when it happens, it’s like all the emotions come pouring back to you,” Krikorian said. “You might not feel these emotions that often, but then they just come rushing back.”

“You just show her love and support,” he added. “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.”