Cheri Madsen facts for kids

Madsen at the 2015 Parapan American Games
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	(1976-09-27) September 27, 1976 (age 48) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Height	155 cm
Weight	52 kg
Sport
Sport	Paralympic athletics
Disability class	T54
Event(s)	100–800 m
Medal record Representing the  United States Paralympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney 100 m T54 Gold 2000 Sydney 400 m T54 Silver 1996 Atlanta 100 m T53 Silver 1996 Atlanta 200 m T53 Silver 2000 Sydney 200 m T54 Silver 2016 Rio 400 m T54 Silver 2020 Tokyo 400 m T54 Bronze 1996 Atlanta 400 m T53 Bronze 1996 Atlanta 800 m T53 Bronze 2020 Tokyo 100 m T54 IPC Athletics World Championships Silver 2017 London 200m - T54 Bronze 2013 Lyon 200 m T54 Bronze 2013 Lyon 400 m T54 Parapan American Games Silver 2015 Toronto 400 m T54 Bronze 2015 Toronto 800 m T54

Cheri Madsen (born September 27, 1976) is an amazing American Paralympic athlete. She is famous for her incredible skill in wheelchair racing. Cheri has won many medals, including gold, silver, and bronze, at the Paralympic Games and other major competitions.

Who is Cheri Madsen?

Cheri Madsen is a talented athlete from the Omaha tribe, which is a Native American group. She grew up in Nebraska and finished high school in 1995.

Early Life and Challenges

When Cheri was only three years old, she lost the ability to use her legs. This happened because of a mysterious viral infection that affected her spine. Despite this challenge, Cheri found her passion in sports.

In 1994, she started wheelchair racing. She quickly became very good at it. Just two years later, she was ready to compete at the highest level.

Paralympic Journey

Cheri's first big competition was the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta. She competed in four different races and won a medal in every single one! This was a fantastic start to her Paralympic career.

She then went on to the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. There, she competed in the same four events. Cheri had an amazing performance, winning two gold medals and one silver medal. She was a true champion!

A Break and a Return

After the 2000 Paralympics, Cheri decided to take a break from racing. She wanted to focus on building her family. She married Eric Madsen on June 2, 2001. Later, they welcomed two daughters, Reese and Malayna.

In 2007, Cheri faced a very sad time when her younger brother and father passed away in an accident. To honor her brother, Cheri decided to return to competitive racing in 2013. It was a brave and inspiring decision.

Continued Success

Cheri's return to racing was incredibly successful. She qualified for the 2013 IPC World Championships, where she won two bronze medals. She also competed in the 2015 Parapan American Games, earning a silver and a bronze medal.

Her journey continued to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, where she won another silver medal. Most recently, she competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics (held in 2021 due to world events). There, she added another silver and a bronze medal to her collection. Cheri Madsen continues to be an inspiring athlete who shows great determination and spirit.