Current:Home > StocksOlympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle -NextFrontier Finance
Olympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle
View
Date:2025-04-14 03:35:50
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! (7)
Related
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- More than 330,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees are recalled to fix steering wheel issue
- Chrysler recalling more than 330,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees due to steering wheel issue
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams calls for expanded cooperation between police and immigration authorities
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- A New York collector pleads guilty to smuggling rare birdwing butterflies
- SF apology to Black community: 'Important step' or 'cotton candy rhetoric'?
- Thousands expected at memorial service for 3 slain Minnesota first responders
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Mega Millions winning numbers for February 27 drawing as jackpot passes $600 million
Ranking
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- Alabama House advances bill to give state money for private and home schooling
- Wendy’s says it has no plans to raise prices during the busiest times at its restaurants
- They’re a path to becoming governor, but attorney general jobs are now a destination, too
- How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
- Max Strus hits game-winning buzzer-beater in Cleveland Cavaliers' win vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Why AP called Michigan for Trump: Race call explained
- A key witness in the Holly Bobo murder trial is recanting his testimony, court documents show
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Messi, Argentina plan four friendlies in the US this year. Here's where you can see him
Drew Barrymore's 1995 Playboy cover comes back to haunt her with daughter's sass
FBI offers $15,000 reward in case of missing Wisconsin boy
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Chrysler recalling more than 330,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees due to steering wheel issue
Community searching for answers after nonbinary teen Nex Benedict dies following fight at school
Dave Sims tips hat to MLB legend and Seattle greats as Mariners' play-by-play announcer