University of Wisconsin Track Star Dead at 21
Sarah Shulze
University of Wisconsin track star Sarah Shulze died by suicide on April 13, according to her family.
“We suddenly and tragically lost our dear Sarah on Wednesday, April 13. She was surrounded by her loving family,” the family said in a statement. “Sarah took her own life. Balancing athletics, academics and the demands of every day life overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment. Like you, we are shocked and grief stricken while holding on tightly to all that Sarah was.”
The Wisconsin Athletics community is heartbroken: “Sarah was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, teammate and Badger student-athlete. We extend our deepest sympathizes and sincere condolences to Sarah’s family, friends and Badger teammates during this extraordinarily difficult time.”
The Wisconsin Athletics community is heartbroken by the unexpected passing of Sarah Shulze pic.twitter.com/HNXK8KvJ1Q
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) April 22, 2022
NBC News reported:
Shulze, who was from Oak Park, California, also had a promising future, earning All-Big Ten honors in 2020 and 2021 for cross-country and in 2021 for track, according to her profile on the university’s athletics page.
She had initially made her mark as an athlete in high school, competing in national and state level events, her family said.
They said she had received a scholarship to race for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which was “an ongoing source of pride for Sarah as she entered her third season with the team.”
Shulze’s family said she was also a member of the student-athlete council and had interned at the Wisconsin state Legislature. She had also volunteered as a poll worker for the 2020 presidential election. “These experiences helped develop her deep love for politics, social causes and women’s rights,” they said.
“Sarah regarded herself as a champion for all women, as did the many family members, friends, students and athletes who surrounded her,” they said.
