BANNER ELK, N.C. – Today, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2021, marks the 10th anniversary of student-athlete Carla Swart's tragic passing at the age of 23. Swart, who is arguably one of the greatest and most decorated collegiate cyclists of all-time as well as a Lees-McRae College Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2011 (an honor which she received posthumously), died while training in her native South Africa in 2011.
During her Lees-McRae career, Swart won 19 total collegiate national championships and helped the Bobcats win the multiple team national championships. In addition to becoming the only cyclist to capture at least one national title in each of the four cycling disciplines in the same season, Swart joined Team HTC-Highroad on a professional contract to compete at the highest level. She also finished 10th at the UCI Road World Championships in 2010 for her native South African team.
Since her tragic passing, Lees-McRae has established the Carla Swart Memorial Scholarship in her honor, which is awarded annually to a female cyclist who demonstrates a love for the sport and exhibits great promise as a cyclist. In addition to the school award, the cycling teams have developed the Carla Swart Intense Burning Desire Award that is given each year to both a male and female cyclist who best embodies her spirit of competitiveness.
Carla Swart will also be remembered for being a fierce competitor, loyal friend, and a model student-athlete.
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