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Elizabeth MADDEN

Elizabeth MADDEN is an American athlete and competes in Jumping.

Name Elizabeth MADDEN
FEI ID 10000458
Gender Female
Date of Birth 20/11/1963
Competing for United States of America - USA
Registration Jumping 2024
Last update 03/02/2023
FEI Database




Jumping 70x70
General Interest
Nicknames Beezie [a shortened version of Elizabeth and also her grandmother's nickname]. (theplaidhorse.com, 06 Sep 2018)
Most influential person in career Her husband John Madden. (Athlete, 04 Jul 2012)
Injuries She broke her collarbone in early 2014 but recovered in time to compete at the 2014 World Equestrian Games [WEG] in Normandy, France. (fei.org, 05 Sep 2014)
Sporting philosophy / motto "It's a humbling sport. You can win one day and be on the ground the next day." (nytimes.com, 02 Apr 2019)
Awards and honours In 2022 she was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (jumpernews.com, 21 Feb 2022; showjumpinghalloffame.net, 21 Jun 2022) In 2020 she was inducted into the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (chronofhorse.com, 10 Jan 2020) She was named the 2019 United States Equestrian Federation [USEF] International Equestrian of the Year. (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 28 Jan 2021) She won the United States Equestrian Federation [USEF] Equestrian of the Year award in 2005, 2006, 2013, and 2014. (noellefloyd.com, 16 Jan 2015; horsetalk.co.nz, 12 Jan 2014) She won the United States Equestrian Team Foundation Whitney Stone Cup in 2006 and 2007. (savvyequestrian.com, 09 Jul 2008) In 1989 she was named the United States Olympic Committee [USOC] Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year. (stadiumjumping.com, 27 Nov 2007)
Famous relatives Her husband John has served as an executive board member and chairman of the International Equestrian Federation [FEI] Jumping Committee. (fei.org, 28 Apr 2013)
Other information CHANGE OF FOCUS She withdrew her name from consideration for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo despite being on the US team shortlist. She did not feel that her horse Garant was ready to compete at the Games. "We're going to refocus our attention on young horses and students coming up after this [the 2020 Olympic Games]. I will still be competing and possibly even up to a high level before the horses are sold. Our main goal will not be going to championships but to develop young horses and sell them and hopefully have them go on to championships with other people." (cnycentral.com, 03 Jul 2021) STABLES She and her husband run John Madden Sales in the United States of America. The business has facilities in Cazenovia, New York, and Wellington, Florida. (Facebook page, 01 Feb 2023; fei.org, 16 Nov 2021) TUMOUR In 2022 she was diagnosed with a benign tumour [vestibular schwannoma] that affected her balance. As a result, she announced her decision to stop competing with the US national team. “Some days I'm 100% and other days I'm a little foggy. So I don't want to say I can ride on a team and produce for the team when I may not be 100%. It's just a little factor. I'm trying to come down. I'm not trying to get on championship teams or stay high on the FEI rankings anymore. We did that for quite a while, but I lost the passion for it." (horsenetwork.com, 20 Sep 2022; equilec.co.uk, 15 Sep 2022) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has served on the board of the US Equestrian Federation [USEF] and the US Equestrian Team [USET] Foundation. (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 07 Dec 2019)
Milestones At age 54 she triumphed at the 2018 World Cup Finals in Paris, France, becoming the oldest jumping rider to have claimed victory at the event and only the second US rider to have won the title twice. She was also champion in 2013. In 2014 she became the first female rider to win the King George V Gold Cup in Hickstead, England. (teamusa.org, 15 Apr 2018; skysports.com, 02 Aug 2015; noellefloyd.com, 16 Jan 2015)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She took up the sport in 1967 at age four at the Milwaukee Hunt Club in Wisconsin, United States of America.
Why this sport? Her parents owned horses. "Even before I was old enough to sit on a horse, I sat on the saddles that were on the saddle rack and pretended I was riding a horse, so I was really into it."
Club / Team John Madden Sales: United States
Further Personal Information
Family Husband John
Other names Elizabeth Patton
Residence United States
Occupation Athlete, Business Owner, Coach, Horse Trainer
Languages English