Paige Madden is a competitive swimmer who represents the United States internationally.
High School (UMS-Wright)
Coming out of high school, Madden held seven Alabama High School State records (50, 100, 200 and 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM). She was a two-time NCSA Junior National Champion in the 400-meter freestyle and was recognized as a Speedo Senior National Swimming medalist as a senior and a junior national medalist as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Madden was named Alabama Coastal Swimmer of the Year in 2015, and was an Alabama State High School Champion in 11 events and was a multiple-event Mobile Country High School Champion. Madden was also a City of Mobile Swim Association Hall of Fame Inductee, Swimmer of the Year and Aquatic League Champion. She Qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials and was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. Heading into college, Madden committed to swim for the University of Virginia
College (Virginia)
2017-2018
Madden made an immediate impact at UVA her freshman year. She was a 3-event scorer at the ACC Conference Championships, aiding the cavaliers to an ACC team title. She placed 5th in the 500 free, 9th in the 200 free, and on the final day of competition won her first ACC individual title in the 200 back. At her first NCAA’s, she placed 17th in the 200 back, 26th in the 200 free, and 51st in the 500 free.
2018-2019
Madden continued to improve and adapt to the college environment during her sophomore year. At the 2019 ACC Champs, she placed top-4 in all 3 of her events, touching 2nd in the 200 and 500 free as well as 4th in the 200 back. She also contributed to the ACC champion 800 free relay, which set a meet record. At the NCAA Champs, she surprised many by placing 2nd in the 500 free (4:32.98), less than a second from 1st place Brooke Forde, also a sophomore. Madden continued her early success at the meet with a 5th place finish in the 200 free (1:43.03) and 10th in the 200 back (1:51.36).
2019-2020
Madden continued to ascend her junior year, displayed by her dominance at the 2020 ACC Champs. She won the 500 free (4:36.19), 200 free (1:43.18), and 1,650 (15:50.38), all by comfortable margins. She was also on UVA’s winning 800 and 400 free relays.
2020-2021
After NCAA’s getting cancelled in 2020, Madden didn’t miss a beat when getting back to collegiate competition. At the 2021 ACCs, Madden once again swept the distance freestyle events, taking wins in the 500 (4:33.25), 200 (1:42.61), and 1,650 (15:45.45) freestyles. UVA defended their 400 and 800 free relay titles as well, which Madden swam on once again.
At her final NCAAs, Madden continued her win streak, picking up titles in the same 3 events: 500 free (4:33.61), 200 free (1:42.35), and 1,650 (15:41.86). She also helped UVA to an NCAA title in the 800 free relay and a runner-up finish in the 400 free relay.
National/International Competition
2018 Summer Nationals
At the Phillips 66 National Championships, Madden finished eighth in the 200 free and 18th in the 400 free. Her finish in the 200 free qualified her for the 2019 World University Games in Naples, Italy.
2019 World University Games
Madden started her meet off in the 4×200 free relay, going 2nd and splitting a 1:59.33 to help Team USA to victory.
2021 Olympic Trials
In Omaha on night 2, Madden took 2nd in the 400m free with a PB of 4:04.86, qualifying for her first Olympic team. On night 4, she finished 3rd in the 200 free, qualifying her for the 4×200 free relay as well.
2020 Olympic Games
Madden started her Games off in the 400 free, moving through to the final and ultimately finishing 7th in a time of 4:06.81. Madden was back in the prelims of the 800 free relay, swimming a 1:55.96 in the morning to secure her spot on the night relay. In the final, she split 1:55.25 to help USA earn silver behind China, breaking an American record and dipping under the previous world record held by Australia.
2024 Olympic Team Trials (Indianapolis, Indiana)
After looking good all season, Madden moved through prelims of the 400 free with a 4:04.83, good for lane 5 next to Katie Ledecky. In the final on night 1, it was all Ledecky with a 3:58.35 but Madden was dominant in her own right. As she clocked a PB of 4:02.08, resetting her prior best of 4:03.02 set in May, Madden likely secured a 2nd Olympic bid and beat out 3rd-place Jillian Cox by 4.87 seconds. That also moved Madden past Katie Anderson (nee Hoff) to become the #3 American all-time.
Madden continued to thrive in the 200 free. Moving through prelims with a 1:57.05 for 2nd, Madden reset her 200 free PB in semis with a 1:56.36 for the 3rd seed into the final. She swam the race with a very strong back half, splitting 27.93/29.29/29.52/29.63. Her old PB of 1:56.44 was set in the semis of 2021 US Olympic Team Trials. In the final, Madden took the race out way faster than the semis but still sat 5th at the 50 with a 27.39. She moved past Alex Shackell with a 28.75 2nd split and Anna Peplowski with a 29.52 3rd split. It seems that early speed was too much for Madden as she came home in a 30.70 but she managed to touch the wall in 1:56.36, matching her PB from semis. Madden’s swim did double duty, qualifying her for the 4×200 free relay and securing her 400 free individual spot.
Madden closed out her incredible meet in the 800. She was 4th in prelims with a 8:31.80, fast for prelims as it was only 4 seconds off her PB. In the final, Katie Ledecky was dominant but Madden put up an impressive race in her own right. She ran 2nd behind Ledecky the whole race and just 2 splits dip into the 32s, her final 2 50s. She dropped 7 seconds off her PB with an 8:20.71.
