Current:Home > reviewsOlympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle -Wealth Empowerment Zone
Olympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle
View
Date:2025-04-18 20:12:00
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! (46912)
Related
- American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees
- Northern California wildfire spreads, with more hot weather expected. Thousands evacuate
- Why Olivia Culpo Didn't Let Sister Aurora Bring her Boyfriend to Christian McCaffrey Wedding
- Pew finds nation divided on whether the American Dream is still possible
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- 1 man hurt when home in rural Wisconsin explodes, authorities say
- In Chile’s Southern Tip, a Bet on Hydrogen Worries Conservationists
- 'What you're doing is wrong': Grand jury blamed Epstein's teen victim, transcript shows
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Concern mounts among lawmakers, donors over Biden's candidacy
Ranking
- How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
- Virginia certifies John McGuire’s primary victory over Rep. Bob Good, who says he’ll seek a recount
- Pet food recall: Viva Raw cat and dog products could carry listeria risk
- ICE created a fake university. Students can now sue the U.S. for it, appellate court rules
- Judge says Mexican ex-official tried to bribe inmates in a bid for new US drug trial
- Two 13-year-olds killed, 12-year-old injured in Atlanta shooting
- Boston Celtics to sign star Jayson Tatum to largest contract in NBA history
- Illinois man sentenced to life in prison for his role in 2020 killings of his uncle, 2 others
Recommendation
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Meet the diehard tennis fans camped out in Wimbledon's epic queue
Beyoncé, Tina Knowles tap Victoria Monét for new Cécred hair care video
Ann Wilson shares cancer diagnosis, says Heart concert tour is postponed: 'This is merely a pause'
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Tour de France Stage 4 recap, results, standings: Tadej Pogačar dominates mountains
Beyoncé, Tina Knowles tap Victoria Monét for new Cécred hair care video
Arkansas ends fiscal year with $698 million surplus, finance office says