Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum
Encyclopedia
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (born 26 December 1969 in Los Angeles
) is an American-born German
equestrian
who competes at the international level in show jumping
.
Born in Los Angeles
, the daughter of film director Richard Michaels grew up riding ponies and had a successful career as a Young Rider, both in equitation
and in show jumping
. As a young-adult, Michaels-Beerbaum studied political science at Princeton University
, continuing to compete during her college years despite a serious accident in 1991 leaving her with two broken wrists. She then went to train in Germany
with Paul Schockemöhle
in 1991, planning to remain only for a summer, which eventually turned into a permanent stay. First she decided to buy the training center in Balve
. Following her marriage to the well-known German show jumper Markus Beerbaum in 1998, she changed her citizenship. Together the Beerbaums have one daughter, Brianne Victoria Beerbaum, born in 2010. Through her marriage, Michaels-Beerbaum is also sister-in-law to Ludger Beerbaum
, who has won multiple Olympic and championship medals in show jumping.
Her past and current top horses include Shutterfly, Checkmate, Stella, and Quick Star.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) is an American-born German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
who competes at the international level in show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
.
Born in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, the daughter of film director Richard Michaels grew up riding ponies and had a successful career as a Young Rider, both in equitation
Equitation
Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship.More specifically, equitation may refer to a rider's position while mounted, and encompass a rider's ability to ride correctly and with effective aids. In horse show competition, the rider, rather than the horse is evaluated...
and in show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
. As a young-adult, Michaels-Beerbaum studied political science at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, continuing to compete during her college years despite a serious accident in 1991 leaving her with two broken wrists. She then went to train in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with Paul Schockemöhle
Paul Schockemöhle
Paul Schockemöhle is a former German showjumper. He is the brother of Alwin Schockemöhle, another leading German rider.He was three times European Champion on his best horse Deister....
in 1991, planning to remain only for a summer, which eventually turned into a permanent stay. First she decided to buy the training center in Balve
Balve
Balve is a town in the Märkischer Kreis district, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in Hönnetal, a narrow valley created by the river Hönne, which is near the Sorpesee, formerly part of Balve, and at the north end of the Sauerland, near Dortmund...
. Following her marriage to the well-known German show jumper Markus Beerbaum in 1998, she changed her citizenship. Together the Beerbaums have one daughter, Brianne Victoria Beerbaum, born in 2010. Through her marriage, Michaels-Beerbaum is also sister-in-law to Ludger Beerbaum
Ludger Beerbaum
Ludger Beerbaum is an internationally successful German rider who competes in show jumping, and has been ranked the No. 1 Show Jumper in the world by the FEI on multiple occasions....
, who has won multiple Olympic and championship medals in show jumping.
Her past and current top horses include Shutterfly, Checkmate, Stella, and Quick Star.
Achievements
- Gold Medal winner of the 2009 World Cup FinalFEI World Cup Jumping 2008–09The FEI World Cup Jumping 2008–09 will be the 31st edition of the premier international show jumping competition run by the FEI. The final held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 15, 2009 to April 19, 2009...
in Las VegasLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, USA (Shutterfly); Winning all three rounds - Gold medal winner of the 2008 World Cup Final in GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(Shutterfly) - The first woman to have reached the No. 1 position on the FEIInternational Federation for Equestrian SportsThe Fédération Équestre Internationale or in English, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is the international governing body of equestrian sports. It recognizes ten international disciplines...
show jumping world rankings (December 2004) - Ranked #1 in the world four consecutive months (February–May 2007)
- Individual and team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian GamesWorld Equestrian GamesThe FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
in Aachen, Germany (Shutterfly) - Individual gold and team silver, European Championships, Mannheim 2007 (Shutterfly)
- Gold medal team member at the 2005 European Championships in San Patrignano (Checkmate 4)
- Gold medal team member, 9th individually, at the 1999 European Championships in Hickstead, England (Stella)
- 5th place at the 2006 World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur (Checkmate 4)
- Gold medal winner of the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, NV (Shutterfly)
- Silver medal at the 2004 World Cup Final in Milan, Italy (Shutterfly)
- Nations Cup starts:27 Wins:8
- Ladies German Championships Gold Medal in 1999 and 2001, Silver medal in 2002, Bronze medal in 1998, 4th place in 2004
- German Championships Bronze Medal in 2004, 5th place in 2002
- German Championship Winner in 2008 at Balve OptimumBalve OptimumThe Balve Optimum is a tournament between horse riders in Balve. It is placed at Balve Wocklum, the home of Dieter von Landsberg-Velen...
- First woman to win the World Cup Finals three times (2005, 2008, 2009)
- Ranked #1 in the world 11 straight months in 2008 (February thru December)