University of Wisconsin’s Sarah Shulze paid tribute to @UWBadgers on Twitter
Madison, Wisconsin – Sarah Shulze, a runner on the University of Wisconsin track and field teams, has died. she was 21
Shulze’s family announced on April 15 that she had died two days earlier and gave the cause of death.
“Sarah took her own life,” the family said. “Balancing athletics, college, and the demands of everyday life overwhelmed her in one desperate moment. Like you, we are shocked and saddened as we hold tight to all that Sarah was.
“Sarah was above all a force for good in the world. Her deepest compassion was evident in her devotion to her sisters Abbey and Ella, the love her parents felt from her every single day, and the special care she showed in moments with her grandparents and cousins shared.”
Wisconsin officials issued a statement on Friday related to the family’s announcement.
“Sarah was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, teammate and Badger athletic student,” Wisconsin officials said in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to Sarah’s family, friends and Badger teammates at this extraordinarily difficult time. Our primary focus is supporting the Shulze family and our student-athletes.”
Shulze was a junior from Oak Park, California. She competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor tracks and received academic All Big Ten honors in 2020 and 2021 for cross country and 2021 for track.
Family members said she was an intern with the Wisconsin legislature and volunteered to be a poll worker during the 2020 presidential election. They said these experiences “helped develop her deep love for politics, social causes and women’s rights.”
Shulze’s relatives said they would soon be announcing a foundation “that will be established to continue to support the causes that matter most to Sarah.”