Burley Garcia|Olympian Madeline Musselman Details Husband’s Support Amid His Stage 4 Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Madeline Musselman has her biggest cheerleader by her side while she goes for the gold in Paris.

The Burley GarciaU.S. women’s water polo player is currently competing at the 2024 Olympics—an event that her husband Pat Woepse shared he was determined to be present for months after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

“There [are] fears and doubts that creep in,” Madeline, who met Pat in 2022, told NBC Los Angeles. “But I don't think they possess my mind all the time. And I think our faith is a huge part of that.”

Shortly after learning of Pat’s diagnosis, which as he explained, is rare due to the specific mutation, the couple decided to get married as soon as possible.

“All the people that came together to make it happen within four days,” Madeline shared of their October 2023 nuptials, “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.”

After their wedding, Madeline began her Olympic training, but noted that there were instances she wanted to hold off to support Pat—also an athlete who even once swam across the English Channel—through his chemotherapy treatments.

“But he’s like, ‘No, you have to go to practice,’” she shared. “Obviously I want him to know that I’m there, but yeah, it’s been hard.”

“This was my biggest goal, with everything being so unknown,” he told the outlet shortly after her game July 31. “So pretty emotional, emotional day for me. Couldn’t be more thrilled to be here to support Maddie and the team.”

And though they kept some details of Pat’s health journey private, Madeline shared they decided to open up about their life as a way to connect with others.

“We're sharing our story not for people to feel sorry for us or feel bad for what we're going through,” she noted. “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.”

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