Paralympic star Angela Madsen dies while attempting to row across Pacific Ocean alone

Madsen was 60 years old

Three-time Paralympian rower Angela Madsen died during her attempt to row across the Pacific Ocean by herself, her wife Deb Madsen told the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Tuesday. Madsen, 60, would have been the first paraplegic, first openly gay athlete, and oldest woman to row across the Pacific Ocean, according to the Press-Telegram. 

The report also states that the Coast Guard recovered Madsen's body, but the cause of death hasn't been revealed at this time. Angela last sent Deb a text message on June 21. But just 24 hours later, the rower was not responding to communications from Deb, which prompted the Coast Guard.

"With extreme sadness, I must announce that Angela Madsen will not complete her solo row to Hawaii." Deb Madsen wrote on the RowofLife Facebook page, which was chronicling Angela's attempt, on Tuesday.

A day earlier, the latest update on the page stated that Angela was halfway to Hawaii. Madsen began her journey In April, when she launched a 20-foot rowboat from Marina Del Ray in Los Angeles. She was hoping to reach Honolulu by August.

Madsen, a U.S. Marine veteran, qualified to be a member of the United States Paralympic rowing team in 2008. She was also a track and field athlete in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics and won a bronze medal in the shot put event in 2012. Madsen became paralyzed as the result of a botched back surgery in 1993.