Angela Madsen (1960–2020), inspirational Paralympic rower

Angela Madsen was the firstwomanwith a disability to rowsolo acrossthe Atlantic Ocean.

• Died:c2June 21, 2020 (Who else died onJune 21?)c2
• Details of Death:Diedat the age of60 from drowning while attempting to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.
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Inspirational Paralympic Rower

Madsen was in the Marines when shehad an accident falling on her back while playing basketball. The surgeryat the Marine base did not go as planned and she lost the use of her legs. The military would not pay for her medical bills and for a while she was homeless.Madsenturned to competitive rowing in 1997 and became an inspirational athlete, winning gold at the World Rowing Championships three times. She also competed in shotput, winning a bronze medal in that sport at the 2012 Paralympicgames. Madsen wasthe firstwoman with a disability to twice row across the Atlantic Ocean. In 2009, she and Helen Taylor became the first women to row across the Indian Ocean. Shewas an LGBTQ activist andis survived by her wife Deb.

Her attemptto row acrossthe Pacific Ocean

Madsen diedon her attempt tobecome thefirst paraplegic, firstopenly gayathlete, and oldest woman to rowsoloacross the Pacific Ocean.She was on day 60 of her journey, about halfway between Los Angeles and Hawaii. She had left a message on Saturdaythat she was going to have to do some repairs on the boat in the waterbut was not heard from after that.The Coast Guard did a flyover and found her bodyMonday floatingin the water still tethered to her boat. Her wife Deb said in a post, e2809cShe was willing to die at sea doing the thing she loved most. She was a hell of a woman and one of the most influential and inspiring people in my life. I hope to live with a fraction of the fierceness of spirit Angela had.e2809d

What they said about her

Full Obituary: The Grunion