Madden and horse Cortes C unable to compete in equestrian jumping finals, however, due to injury

By Jason Emerson

editor

While local four-time Olympian Beezie Madden was unable to compete in the team equestrian jumping finals or the individual jumping competition due to her horse sustaining an injury, she will still come home to Central New York with  silver medal.

Madden, 52, of Nelson, a two-time show jumping team gold medalist, competed in two rounds of the Rio Olympics team equestrian jumping competition last week before announcing she would drop out of the event after her horse, Cortes C, sustained a tendon injury.

“We are heartbroken to announce that Cortes ‘C’ sustained a tendon injury in yesterday’s competition and will be unable to compete for Team USA today [Wednesday, Aug. 17]. We are confident that he will make a full recovery,” Madden said in a state issued on her Facebook page. “While we had hoped to do everything we could to help the USA towards a medal today, Tiny’s [Cortes ‘C’] best interests must come first. We are so thankful to our teammates, sponsors, and most importantly, his owner, Abigail Wexner, for understanding that in this sport, sometimes winning means doing right by your best friend.”

Madden and Cortes C participated in the first round of competition on Sunday, Aug. 14, during which the pair had four faults but still qualified for the final rounds of show jumping.

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, Madden completed the jumping course with eight faults, which, combined with the previous four faults, eliminated her from individual medal competition.

The team competition, however, was another story. Team USA was tied for first place on Aug. 16 after the other three members of the team — Kent Farrington, Lucy Davis and McLain Ward — had faultless rides that day.

Before the team final competition could begin on Aug. 17, however, the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team announced it had withdrawn Madden and Cortes ‘C’ in the best interest of the injured horse’s welfare.

The U.S. competed in the team final as a three-member team, which meant the U.S. was not given the opportunity to drop a score.

According to Teamsusa.org, the official U.S. Olympic team website, the U.S. team began the final day in a four-way tie for first with the Netherlands, Brazil and Germany, with France in fifth place. In the end, the French prevailed with the gold while the U.S. claimed the second spot and Germany won the bronze.

Madden, although not part of the competition, cheered her team members from the sidelines as they secured the silver medal.