Sept. 23, 2014

This year Wisconsin will celebrate 40 great moments as part of the 40th anniversary of women's intercollegiate athletics (1974-2015). Today we highlight Cindy Bremser, UW's first track All-American. See other moments on the 40th Anniversary landing page where one is revealed every Tuesday.

MADISON, Wis. - As the Badgers celebrate the 40th Anniversary of UW women’s athletics, Wisconsin takes a closer look at Cindy Bremser, the first women’s track All-American at Wisconsin.

Bremser came out for the track team in 1975, the first season of competition, with the motive to lose weight. The nursing student had never run competitively prior to her first race for Wisconsin. Bremser competed in the 1975 AIAW National Championship were she took third place in the outdoor mile earning her All-American recognition.

After graduating from Wisconsin, Bremser won the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1983 Pan American games. She then went on to become Wisconsin’s first women’s track Olympian, finishing fourth place in the 3,000 meters in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Bremser earned her spot on every U.S. National team from 1975 to 1988, ranking among the world’s best in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. Bremser also made World championships appearances in 1983 and 1987 and competed in the Goodwill Games in 1986.

Bremser became known as one the greatest athletes in the history of the Drake Relays. Bremser won six Drake Relays titles in the 1,500 meters over a seven-year period and became the first woman in Relays history to win four straight victories in the same race, winning the event five-consecutive times from 1981-85.

Her personal records include a time of 15 minutes, 11 seconds in the 5,000 meters, 8:28 in the 3,000 meters and 4:04 in the 1,500 meters.

Bremser currently resides in Middleton, where she serves as a head coach for the Middleton High School cross country teams.