Paralympian Angela Madsen dies during solo rowing trip across Pacific Ocean

Paralympian Angel Madsen was found dead Monday. She was 60 years old.

Madsen was trying to become the first paraplegic, openly gay and oldest woman to cross the Pacific Ocean, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, so in April she set out on a solo rowing journey in a 20-foot rowboat heading towards Honolulu from California.

Madsen's wife Deb became worried when Madsen stopped responding to her text messages on Sunday, and the next day her body was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard. An official cause of death has not been determined or released.

Madsen, a U.S. Marine veteran, became paralyzed in 1993 following a surgery on her injured spine. She later became homeless, but credited wheelchair sports for changing her life and turning it around.

The 60-year-old earned a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team three times, winning the bronze medal in shot put in 2012.