U.S. ladies’s water polo attacker Maddie Musselman is dedicating the Paris Olympics to her husband Pat Woepse, who has stage 4 lung most cancers. (File photograph, SCNG)
LOS ALAMITOS — Maddie Musselman is once more on cue as she prepares for her third consecutive Olympics with the U.S. ladies’s water polo crew. She’s going through one other problem boldly and calmly.
The 26-year-old who as soon as bypassed her senior season in highschool to play within the Olympics, and later overcame shoulder surgical procedure to turn out to be an Olympic MVP, is amid one of many storms of life.
Musselman’s husband Pat Woepse has a uncommon type of stage 4 lung most cancers.
Some within the tight-knit, SoCal water polo group questioned if Musselman would flip down her roster spot for the Paris Olympics due to Woepse’s sickness. Musselman had her personal doubts about enjoying however she’ll not solely be within the water for Workforce USA beginning July 27 towards Greece, she’ll be impressed by her husband’s stand towards a scary illness.
“He’s pushing me,” Musselman stated. “You play for nation. You play to your teammates however every particular person particular person has their very own journey and their very own story to inform and also you type of mould these tales collectively to make your crew.”
“My story is enjoying for Pat,” she added. “We’ll going to get by way of it.”
As Musselman talks after a current apply on the Joint Forces Coaching Base, her marriage ceremony ring — which she removes when enjoying — is already again on her finger. It’s an indication of her motivation for the Paris Video games, the place the People are looking for a file fourth consecutive gold medal.
Musselman and Woepse have been married final 12 months on Sept. 30. The previous UCLA and Orange County water polo gamers have been engaged in June however moved up their marriage ceremony plans due to Woepse’s most cancers prognosis in mid-September.
Woepse, who performed at Mater Dei, discovered of his prognosis shortly after finishing the 21-mile English Channel swim on his thirtieth birthday on Aug. 10, 2023.
“He had a cough and we simply didn’t know what it was,” Musselman recalled. “We thought it was like pneumonia or Bronchitis and he was taking medication however he swam the channel and crushed the channel with stage 4 most cancers.”
Musselman, who performed at Corona del Mar, initially had reservations about continuing together with her Olympic profession this summer season.
She questioned how she may steadiness being a supportive accomplice with water polo.
“I’ve realized like ‘Wow, life is a lot greater than sport’ and I wished to be there to assist *(Pat),” Musselman stated. “I (thought) I’m simply not going to have the ability to do each.”
Musselman stated she met with U.S. ladies’s coach Adam Krikorian, who supplied his assist and inspired her to stay with Workforce USA. Woepse, in the meantime, offered readability by setting a purpose of attending the Video games and watching Musselman play.
“As an athlete, I like watching her compete,” he stated. “Every sport alongside the best way has been a small milestone for me to look ahead to and it all the time offers me power to observe the crew play.”
“Maddie’s means to deal with me at dwelling after which prepare double-day practices to arrange for the Olympics is nothing wanting extraordinary,” he added. “If she is in a position to do this then I can proceed to struggle by way of all my remedies.”
Woepse has underwent chemotherapy and radiation remedies, Musselman stated, and is now collaborating in a medical trial by way of the Dana-Farber Most cancers Institute. He obtained medical clearance to journey to Paris, the place might be supported by family and friends, she added.
Musselman has attended Woepse’s main medical appointments whereas persevering with to coach.
Within the fall, the attacker handled a knee harm that she referred to as a “blessing in disguise” as a result of it allowed her extra time to spend with Woepse.
“I felt like I needed to come again (to play for Pat),” Musselman stated. “My objective (is) loads completely different. My fireplace now’s loads completely different, particularly when you will have somebody who’s going by way of a approach completely different expertise than sport and water polo.”
“The Olympics are superb,” she added, “however life is so valuable.”
