Rowing Against the Wind

In September of 1993, at the age of 33, Angela Madsen underwent back surgery for an injury she sustained while on duty in the military. But the surgery went wrong, leaving her a diagnosed paraplegic. She lost her job, her home and wound up living on the streets of California just steps away from Disneyland.  

But through determination and a will to survive, Angela turned her life around and today is a champion Paralympian athlete who holds six Guiness World Records for rowing oceans and is the only person to have rowed three ocean crossings and completed the circumnavigation of Great Britain in a rowboat. in June 2013 she will row solo and unescorted 2,500 miles from California to Hawaii.

"Rowing Against the Wind" is Angela's Madsen's amazing story of injury, loss, perseverance and, ultimately, success.

Angela Madsen of Long Beach, CA In September of 1993, at the age of 33, Angela Madsen was left a parpaplegic after a botched surgery to repair an injury sustained while serving in the Marine Corps. Today, she is a champion Paralympian athlete who holds six Guiness World Records for rowing oceans and is the only person to have rowed three ocean crossings and completed the circumnavigation of Great Britain in a row boat. She lives with her wife, Debra Moeller, in Long Beach, California and Bakersfield, California.