Current:Home > reviewsOlympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle -Infinite Edge Capital
Olympian Madeline Musselman Honors Husband Pat Woepse After Fatal Cancer Battle
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:13:15
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! (26)
Related
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Jon Rahm responds to Brooks Koepka's accusation that he acted 'like a child' at the Ryder Cup
- Deion Sanders is Colorado's $280 million man (after four games)
- Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals who will help him to reform the church and cement his legacy
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- MVP candidates Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr. top MLB jersey sales list
- Angry customer and auto shop owner shoot each other to death, Florida police say
- Looming shutdown rattles families who rely on Head Start program for disadvantaged children
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Deal Alert: Shop Stuart Weitzman Shoes From Just $85 at Saks Off Fifth
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Kronthaler’s carnival: Westwood’s legacy finds its maverick heir in Paris
- Missing inmate who walked away from NJ halfway house recaptured, officials say
- Pilot of small plane dies after crash in Alabama field
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- More than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population flees as future uncertain for those who remain
- Photographs documented US Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s groundbreaking career in politics
- Future Motion recalls all Onewheel electric skateboards after 4 deaths
Recommendation
Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
Why does honey crystalize? It's complex – but it has a simple fix.
Kourtney Kardashian's Friends Deny Kim's Claim They're in Anti-Kourtney Group Chat
Janet Yellen says a government shutdown could risk tipping the U.S. into a recession
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Desmond Howard criticizes 'thin-skinned' OSU coach Ryan Day for comments on Lou Holtz
Senate confirms Mississippi US Attorney, putting him in charge of welfare scandal prosecution
NYC floods: Photos show torrential rain wreaking havoc on New York City, North Jersey