Sarina Hülsenbeck qualified for the 1980 Moskva Olympics and was a member of the 4x100 metres freestyle relay squad. She gained selection after finishing fourth in the 100 metres free at both the 1979 and 1980 East German nationals. Hülsenbeck then won the relay gold medal at the Olympics, and swam in the 4x100 medley relay heats but not in the final. As gold medals were not awarded for all members of a relay squad until 1984, she was not awarded the gold at Moskva because she did not swim in the final.
Hülsenbeck later married Frank Fischer, brother of legendary flatwater canoeist Birgit Fischer-Schmidt, and raised her children Fanny and non-Olympian Falco Fischer, who were also flatwater canoeists. Hülsenbeck-Fischer also became the mother-in-law of Ronald Rauhe after his marriage to Fanny. Hülsenbeck was a schoolteacher by profession.