‘His athletic star looked so assuredly rising’: Vermont’s top cyclist killed in Texas

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Anna Moriah Wilson. Photo via Dartmouth College Athletics

A woman who grew up in East Burke and spent years skiing and training in the mountains of Vermont before becoming a rising cycling star was fatally shot last week in Texas.

Anna Moriah Wilson, 25, was in Texas ahead of a gravel cycling event “where she was the favorite for victory on Saturday”. VeloNews reported.

Wilson, known to those close to her as “Mo”, is a graduate of Burke Mountain Academy and Dartmouth College. She transitioned from skiing to cycling and was becoming a force in gravel and mountain bike racing, according to the VeloNews report.

“As a dedicated student, a compassionate friend to all, and a courageous athlete, she exemplified the values ​​that our school hopes to inspire in every student,” Willy Brooks, director of the academy, said in a statement.

“Moriah was an inspiration to our community,” the statement added, “and his death at a time when his sporting star seemed so assuredly on the rise only amplifies the deep sense of loss associated with a good life that s ended far too soon.”

Austin police, in a news release, said they responded to an emergency call around 10 p.m. May 11 at an apartment in East Austin. A woman calling 911 reported that she had returned home and found her friend, Wilson, unconscious, the statement said.

Wilson had been shot multiple times, the statement said, and died at the scene despite lifesaving measures taken by emergency medical personnel. Police ruled Wilson’s death a homicide.

Detectives said the shooting was not random and they have identified a “person of interest”. Austin police could not be reached Monday for further information.

The Wilson family, in a statement, asked for confidentiality and thanked people for the love and support offered.

“While Moriah’s tragic loss is unfathomable, at the same time, we want everyone to join us in celebrating his life, his accomplishments and his love for others,” the statement read. “Always pushing relentlessly to achieve her goals, we knew she was pursuing what she loved. We will miss her terribly and know that we all mourn her with us.

The news of Wilson’s death left the cycling community in mourning, with many friends and competitors donating memories.

Rebecca Rusch, cyclist and endurance athlete, took to Twitter, writing: ‘Heartbroken and heartbroken for the loss of this grounded beautiful young woman who was so full of light and energy. She was exceptional in every way. »

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