Maggie Steffens Pays Tribute to Late Sister-in-Law Lulu in Emotional Post: ‘I Love You, Always Together’

Maggie Steffens is remembering her sister-in-law.

The three-time gold medalist, 31, posted an emotional tribute to her late sister-in-law Lulu Conner on Instagram on Saturday, Aug. 3, following Connor’s sudden death at 26 on July 24 after coming to Paris to watch Steffens compete at the 2024 Olympic Games.

“Live like Lu ☀️💕✨ I love you, always together. Time to fly 🕊️,” the water polo Olympian wrote of Connor, who was the younger sister of her husband Bobby Conner.

“Lulu Conner 🪽08.12.1997-07.24.2024,” she continued, including Lulu’s birth date and the date that she died.

Steffens shared three photos alongside her message, with the first showing herself and Lulu smiling as they took a selfie together in a New York City street. 

She explained of the photo in the caption, “Photo 1: Wedding dress shopping in NYC just me and you, CAN’T WAIT TO BE SISTERS!”

Steffens also posted a Polaroid that showed her posed with a large group of friends and family members in matching floral print short sets. “Photo 2: Getting ready suite 11/11 in San Juan, OFFICIALLY SISTERS! 🥰,” she wrote of the image in the caption. Steffens married Bobby in November 2023, and the photo caption indicated the shot was taken at the wedding celebrations.

The Olympian was seen with her family in a final photo as they wore Team U.S.A. T-shirts while supporting her at the Olympic Games in Paris. “Photo 3: One big family of Steffens & Conners & more living like Lu 🙌🏼. Super support team during this extremely difficult time 🙏🏼❤️,” she wrote of the third image, concluding her caption.

Steffens confirmed to the Associated Press on July 28 that her sister-in-law had died following a “medical emergency.” Reps for the U.S. women’s water polo team also confirmed Lulu’s death to PEOPLE at the time. 

Steffens told AP: “She was so excited for the Olympic Games. We’re really close. She’s the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together.”

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She told the outlet that she dropped a bouquet in Lulu’s honor in the Seine River in Paris during the opening ceremony of the Olympics on July 26. 

“My team has been a really big support system for me,” Steffens added of her loss. “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.”

Steffens also spoke exclusively to PEOPLE on July 29 following her sister-in-law’s death, describing the “joy” Lulu brought to others.

“Obviously it’s difficult to talk about, especially today, but Lulu was a light,” she said. “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.”

Although Lulu’s cause of death has not been disclosed publicly by the family, Bobby has remained in Paris along with Lulu’s relatives to support Steffens as she aims for a fourth gold medal.

“And Lulu is here. She’s here [in Paris],” the athlete told PEOPLE. “And I think that’s something that’s uniting us all and we hope to make her proud.”