Edwina Tops-Alexander | |
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Born | |
Nationality | Australian |
Alma mater | Pymble Ladies College Australian College of Physical Education |
Occupation | Professional Showjumper |
Years active | 1998–Present |
Known for | 2016 Summer Olympics and winning The Global Champions Tour in 2011 and 2012 |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
Spouse | Jan Tops |
Edwina Tops-Alexander (born 29 March 1974) is an Australian showjumper known for her participation in three Olympics, finishing in the top ten twice. She is the first Australian to place in the top 10 at the World Equestrian Games and the first rider to earn more than €1 million in prize money on the Global Champions Tour. She is Australia's most decorated female equestrian.
Tops-Alexander began riding at age eight through her local Pony Club. In 1995, she won the Australian Young Rider's Championship. She made her debut representing Australia in 1998, the same year that she moved to Europe. In 2000, Tops-Alexander met Dutch rider Jan Tops, who became her coach and later, her husband. In 2002, Tops-Alexander competed at the World Equestrian Games (WEG), hosted that year in Jerez, for the first time. In 2006, she placed fourth at WEG Aachen. That year, she also competed on the Global Champions Tour for the first time. She rode at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing ninth individually and helping Team Australia to a seventh-place finish. In 2010, she was the overall winner of the Global Champions Tour. In 2012 she competed at the London Olympics. In 2014 she became the first rider to earn more than €1 million in prize money on the Global Champions Tour. She competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, captaining the Australian showjumping team and finishing ninth individually. Tops-Alexander finished second, after Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, on the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour.[1][2]