Beloved College Track Star Dead at 21, Friends and Fans 'Shocked and Grief Stricken'

Amid all the accolades heaped upon her for her athletic achievements, something went horribly wrong for college track star Sarah Shulze.

Despite being only 21, with so much life and potential ahead of her, Shulze took her own life earlier this month, her family announced on a website created to honor her memory.

Shulze had earned academic all-Big Ten honors in 2020 and 2021 for cross country and in 2021 for track while running for the University of Wisconsin.

“The world is a better place for Sarah having been part of it,” said Tim Chevalier, the athletic director at her high school in Oak Park, California, according to the VC Star.

“While her passing has been difficult to process, I take hope that her stories will continue to be told and her positive impact on others will be remembered,” he said.

“In the classroom, Sarah was a top-notch student,” he continued. “On the track, Sarah was a fierce competitor who absolutely electric and continually pushed herself to be great.”

But for reasons not disclosed, the pressures became too great