JOHANNESBURG - The former KwaZulu-Natal Schools’ cricket captain and six-handicap golfer was the ninth of 10 Madsens to represent his country at hockey while his brother Wayne, also a former national hockey player, is captain of the Derbyshire county cricket side.

In another time and place Lloyd himself would have made it big in cricket such was his talent and DNA – when not playing hockey, paternal uncles Mike and Trevor played many cricket seasons for Natal while maternal uncle Henry Fotheringham needs no introduction.

Madsen has high hopes for the South African hockey men at London 2012.
“We have had to make lots of sacrifices over the years in order to try play more hockey together as a team and this has made us stronger and even more determined. 

It’s been difficult to play together as amateurs in a professional environment and with no team sponsors compared to other international teams, but everyone just gets on with it and does their thing.

“For me, growing up and watching the Olympics on TV, it was always the ultimate.

Can South Africa medal in London?
“Yes we can! We are going to the Olympics to win a medal! We’ve discussed it as a team and set out our goals, and we all believe that we are good enough to win a medal.

We are in a tough pool with world champions Australia, but Pakistan, Argentina and Great Britain are all teams that we have beaten before in recent times. We narrowly lost to Spain at the World Cup in Delhi two years ago and we are really determined to get one over them in London.”
 
On matters family, it’s not just in the genes, a lot is about support.
 “My mom (Adele) and dad (Paddy) have always given me the most unbelievable support,” says Lloyd.

A passionate sports fan, watching the Masters at Augusta plus tennis at Wimbledon and the French Open, play golf at St Andrews and Pebble Beach, are high on the wish list. Time off from hockey is spent in the Drakensberg, the beach or going away to game reserves.

Has he any plans to retire post-London?

“Having played the last three seasons in Holland and knowing what an amazing hockey culture they have, it is definitely my goal to play in the 2014 World Cup  and I’m pretty sure that will be my last bit of international hockey.”