Current:Home > NewsOlympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle -MoneyFlow Academy
Olympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle
View
Date:2025-04-15 08:25:00
Madeline Musselman is remembering her late husband.
Less than a month after the Olympian shared her husband Pat Woepse had died at 31 following a battle with a rare form of cancer called NUT carcinoma, she joined family and friends to celebrate his life at an outing to Newport Beach, Calif.
In addition to a church service, Pat's loved ones honored him with an ocean swim as a tribute to the late UCLA water polo player, who once swam across the English Channel.
"All for you, Pat. All for you," Madeline captioned a Nov. 3 Instagram video. "We love you and miss you. We can do hard things. PW FOREVER."
The 26-year-old—who won gold with her water polo team at the 2020 Tokyo and 2016 Rio Olympics—first shared the news of Pat's passing on Oct. 10.
"No words to describe the ache of missing him" she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the two on the beach. "He was the light of my life and my person. He was my first love and the best husband I could have ever asked for."
She added, "And although it feels heavy and I can't breathe as I sit here typing this out, he is no longer in pain and was so at peace during his last moments. He battled one of the most rare cancers for over a year, never complained, and fought harder than anyone should have to fight for something in their life."
But he'll always be in her heart.
"I love you so much babe," she said. "I will be missing you forever."
Madeline and Pat first met in 2022 and married in October 2023, shortly after learning about his cancer diagnosis.
"All the people that came together to make it happen within four days," Madeline recalled to NBCLos Angeles in August, "it was pretty crazy. We had flowers. We had a church that welcomed us with open arms to marry us. It was just a perfect weekend."
Pat had previously shared that despite his health and the chemotherapy treatments he was undergoing, he was determined to watch his wife compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics—and he did.
"This was my biggest goal, with everything being so unknown," he told NBC. "So pretty emotional, emotional day for me. Couldn't be more thrilled to be here to support Maddie and the team.
And while the couple wanted to keep many aspects of their lives private, the athletes shared their hope that by being open about their story they could be an inspiration to others dealing with difficult situations.
"We're sharing our story not for people to feel sorry for us or feel bad for what we're going through," Madeline said. "If anything it's for inspiration and that you can get to the other side of things With the people that are right next to you, we hope for that."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (2)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Angela Bassett and Mel Brooks to receive honorary Oscars
- Is a Conservative Climate Movement Heating Up?
- Pregnant Claire Holt Shares Glowing Update on Baby No. 3
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Solar Energy Boom Sets New Records, Shattering Expectations
- Teen Wolf's Tyler Posey Engaged to Singer Phem
- Chrissy Teigen and John Legend welcome 4th child via surrogate
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- American Climate Video: Floodwaters Test the Staying Power of a ‘Determined Man’
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Is Climate-Related Financial Regulation Coming Under Biden? Wall Street Is Betting on It
- Earn less than $100,000 in San Francisco? Then you are considered low income.
- Newsom’s Top Five Candidates for Kamala Harris’s Senate Seat All Have Climate in Their Bios
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- California man sentenced to more than 6 years in cow manure Ponzi scheme
- United Airlines CEO blasts FAA call to cancel and delay flights because of bad weather
- Kate Middleton Is Pretty in Pink at Jordan's Royal Wedding With Prince William
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Proof Fast & Furious's Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel Have Officially Ended Their Feud
Environmental Refugees and the Definitions of Justice
Jill Duggar Shares Her Biggest Regrets and More Duggar Family Secrets Series Bombshells
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Pregnant Claire Holt Shares Glowing Update on Baby No. 3
American Idol Contestant Defends Katy Perry Against Bullying Accusations
Hurry to Aerie's Sale Section for $15 Bikinis, $20 Skirts, $16 Leggings & More 60% Off Deals