Maggie Steffens Will 'Always Remember' the 'Energy and Positivity' Her Late Sister-In-Law Lulu Brought (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Maggie Steffens (L) and Lulu Conner.Photo:Maggie Steffens/Instagram

Maggie Steffens/Instagram

Maggie Steffenswill always hold a special place in her heart for her late sister-in-law, Lulu Conner.

Whilespeaking to PEOPLE at the 2024 Black Music Action Coalition Galaon Thursday, Sept. 19, Steffens, 31, shared that while her family is “still processing all that happened at the Olympics,” they are determined to “honor” Lulu’s “spirit, her light, her joy she brought the world.”

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Steffens tells PEOPLE that being the youngest of four made Lulu “the little sister that I never got to have.”

Lulu Conner.Lulu Conner/Instagram

Lulu Conner/Instagram

“That created a relationship that instantly felt like family. And this past year, my husband and I got married. And, of course, she looked beautiful, and she read a poem at our ceremony. But my favorite memory is at my bachelorette because, of course, she was there,” the athlete recalls.

“She flew all the way from New York City. Her flight got delayed. She missed the boat out to Catalina, where we were going,” continues Steffens. “Somehow, [she] still made it and showed up in her travel gear out to the bar and ready to go at, you know, it was her 26th birthday at the time, and she passed at 26 as well.”

Maggie Steffens at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Clive Rose/Getty

Clive Rose/Getty

“So I think turning 26 for me and that energy and positivity she brought will be something I’ll always remember,” she adds.

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Days after Lulu’s death was announced,Steffens honored Luluwith a touchingInstagram tribute, writing, “Live like Lu ☀️💕✨ I love you, always together. Time to fly 🕊️ Lulu Conner 🪽08.12.1997-07.24.2024.”

In a previous interview with PEOPLE during the Olympics in July, Steffens said Lulu “brought 150% to” every venture.

“Obviously it’s difficult to talk about, especially today, but Lulu was a light,” Steffens said in July. “She is the Olympic spirit, and I think that’s shown in how much she’s here. She’s so present at the Olympics. She was somebody that brought joy to everybody she was with and to everything she did.”

Steffens won a gold medal with the U.S. women’s water polo team during the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics. In Paris, the team finished fourth, behind Spain, Australia and The Netherlands.

source: people.com