The U.S. girls’s water polo workforce suffered a heartbreaking loss int he bronze medal match on the Paris Olympics, lacking the rostrum after a objective from the Netherlands within the closing second secured the Dutch workforce the third place spot.
The workforce, which incorporates stars like captain Maggie Steffens and goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson, completed the 2024 Paris Olympics in fourth place, dropping to the Dutch workforce 11-10 on Saturday, Aug. 10 at La Défense Area.
The win was an in depth match that noticed the Netherlands sizzling on the People’ path all the time. With simply over a minute left within the final quarter, Staff USA misplaced their lead because the Dutch tied the sport, 10-10. With simply 0:01 seconds left, Staff Netherlands pulled forward for the lead.
The sport got here two days after the U.S.’s tough loss to Australia, which blocked them from an opportunity at profitable a fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
The workforce confronted its fair proportion of consideration throughout the Video games, because of each superstar help and private tragedy.
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Taste Flav, 65, was readily available to cheer the workforce on as one in all their greatest followers after promising in Could that he would assist pay their method by way of the Video games. His help got here after Steffens, 31, wrote on Instagram that the gamers wanted monetary assist as a way to compete on the Olympics.
“By me sponsoring this water polo workforce, that is going to assist me pull one thing off of my bucket listing,” Flav instructed PEOPLE concerning the sponsorship in Could. “You understand what? I at all times wished to in the future go to the Olympic Video games and see it and see it reside with my eyes, not simply on TV. You understand what I am saying?”
Regardless of the help, the workforce confronted adversity outdoors of the pool; simply two days after the opening ceremony, a rep for the workforce confirmed to PEOPLE that Steffens’ 26-year-old sister-in-law died in Paris following a medical emergency. The athlete has since been vocal about wanting to maintain her spirits up in honor of Lulu Conner, who was the youthful sister of her husband Bobby Conner.
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Attacker Maddie Musselman has additionally been open about her private struggles after her husband Patrick Woepse was identified with stage 4 lung most cancers.
“Sadly there’s been a number of adversity outdoors of water that we confronted, and I simply assume that we’ve been by way of lots and accomplished an amazing job of being there for each other,” Steffens instructed reporters after the loss to Australia. “This workforce is superb. There’s a lot ardour, a lot love, a lot camaraderie, and I’m excited to combat for them yet one more time.”
To study extra about all of the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to individuals.com to take a look at ongoing protection earlier than, throughout and after the video games. And join Going for Gold, our Olympics publication, to get the most important tales from the Video games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, starting July 26, on NBC and Peacock.
