When Cindy Bremser ’74, MS’85, entered the nursing program at UW–Madison in 1972, she had no idea that it was not only the beginning of her nursing journey but also the start of her trailblazing career as an Olympic runner.
The Mishicot, Wisconsin, native discovered both nursing and running by chance. Bremser had enrolled at UW–Green Bay right out of high school and had no plans to come to Madison, but the first of her random moments of chance helped change her path. “It was weird how I found the UW–Madison nursing program. I think I just saw a flyer,” says Bremser. “If you came after your freshman year, they’d let you complete eight credits towards the nursing degree. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I enjoyed the sciences, so I applied.”
At the time, UW–Green Bay did not have a nursing program, so Bremser transferred to UW–Madison for her sophomore year. Once in the nursing program, she realized that in addition to her love of science, she also enjoyed taking care of people. “Getting a degree that would lead to a job was really important to me, and I also knew there were so many different avenues you could go into with nursing,” she recalls.
Bremser enjoyed the nursing program, but the long hours of studying spurred her to find a physical outlet. Once again, a flyer she spotted by chance for the new women’s track and cross-country program changed the course of her life. The program was created after Title IX prohibited sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that received Federal funding, including school athletics, in 1972.
It wasn’t easy to be in the first cohort of female varsity-level student-athletes at UW–Madison. Bremser says, “It was threatening for some of the men because they were afraid they’d have to share resources.” The budget for the women’s varsity program was minuscule; some teams had to share uniforms, and Bremser had to borrow shoes from her coach. But she says there were also many vocal supporters of the fledgling program.
Although she’d only participated in sports casually until her collegiate athletics debut, Bremser proved to be an incredibly talented athlete, taking third place in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women’s National Championship in 1975 in the outdoor mile (at the time, the NCAA did not sanction women’s sports, so the AIAW organized the women’s championship events). It earned her All-American recognition, making her the first female UW track All-American.
She graduated in December of 1974 and worked at Madison General Hospital while she ran up to 85 miles per week and competed on weekends. Since the track season began at the end of 1974, Bremser was able to compete in 1975 despite no longer being a student. “It was a lot to juggle,” she recalls. Still, Bremser’s training proved successful, and despite narrowly missing the cut for the 1976 Olympic team, she earned a place on every US national track team from 1975 to 1988.
Bremser didn’t give up on her Olympic dream after 1976. She kept running and enrolled in UW–Madison’s master of science in nursing program in 1982, focusing on pediatrics. She found her running career easier to balance with school than a full-time job. “My professors and advisor, Pat Lasky, MS’68, PhD’80, were wonderful. They allowed me to adjust my schedule so I could still get my degree,” says Bremser.
Then, in the middle of graduate school, Bremser’s dream finally came true: She qualified for the 1984 Olympics team and went to Los Angeles to participate in the games in the 3000-meter event. She competed in the infamous race where Zola Budd and Mary Decker Slaney collided. Bremser finished fourth, just .26 seconds behind the Bronze Medal winner. It marked the first time a UW alumna participated in an Olympic track event.
Bremser also won six straight 1500-meter titles at the Drake Relays and was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 1985. She was later a charter inductee of the UW Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 for her successes.
Training as an elite runner and being a nurse may seem quite different, but Bremser thinks they complement each other. “Many other athletes didn’t have a life outside of running, and I liked that nursing gave me something else to focus on,” says Bremser. She also believes the dedication running required helped her throughout her life. “If you know you want to do something, you want to do it well. I’m hoping that carried over into my nursing career.”
As Bremser looks back at her nursing journey, there are many highlights. The most rewarding part of being a nurse was the appreciation she received from those she helped. “In general, people respect nurses and what we have to say. There was a lot of appreciation and gratitude for the work we did.” She worked with children at the Mendota Mental Health Institute, which ignited her passion for pediatrics; she later became a school nurse. “It was an amazing career,” Bremser says.
Bremser retired two years before the COVID-19 pandemic, which she’s grateful not to have worked through. Since then, she’s had no trouble keeping busy. She and her husband remodeled their house, which is near where they lived as students at UW–Madison. They enjoy traveling and go to Nashville to see their grandchildren.
The connections she made at UW–Madison have lasted a lifetime, and she’s still friends with many of her classmates, including her college roommate, Sue Conard ’75. Bremser looks forward to reconnecting with Conard and the rest of her classmates at the Centennial Celebration and All-School Reunion this November.
Bremser’s running career and Olympic journey began because she was looking for a way to take care of herself while undergoing the rigors of nursing school. Her advice for today’s Badger nurses stems from her own experience, and she emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself. “I think nurses now are very stressed. Focus on your own self-care so you can make it through each day. I used to have stressful days, but it wasn’t every day like it is for many nurses now. We older nurses are retiring, and it doesn’t seem like employers are filling those spots. I’m worried the younger nurses will burn out.” She also believes collaboration is essential. “Personalities do clash, but you have to work as a team. When new nurses come onto your unit, be kind to them so they’ll stay!”
With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, Bremser is excited to watch. “It’s incredible to think that it’s been fifty years since Title IX passed,” says Bremser. “Now, when you look at our athletes, it’s amazing what they can accomplish and the opportunities they have, which is also the case for nurses today. I’m proud of my career as a runner and nurse. I have no regrets.”
Cindy Bremser’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unexpected paths life can take us on. From the hallways of UW–Madison to the tracks of the Olympics, to advocating for pediatric patients, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her dual passions for nursing and running shaped not only her career but also her character, teaching her the importance of dedication, adaptability, and the joy of serving others. As she reflects on her past, it’s clear that Bremser’s legacy is not just in the medals she chased or the patients she cared for. It is also in the countless lives she inspired and impacted along the way. Her story reminds us that with determination and heart, we can cross any finish line we set for ourselves.