Emma Coburn announced on Instagram that while going over the water jump at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting last week, upon landing she broke her ankle.
”I don’t know what to say…I broke my ankle on the water jump in Shanghai…When I got home, images showed torn ligaments, damaged cartilage, and a fracture in my medial malleolus. I had surgery yesterday and got a screw in my ankle for the fracture and got the cartilage cleaned up. If all goes well, I can start jogging again in 6 weeks.”
This was Coburn’s first race since coming back from a torn hamstring last year. Due to the nature of the latest injury and the recovery process, she does not anticipate being able to compete at the upcoming Olympic Trials. She had made the previous three Olympic teams.
Emma went on to say, “The dream of Paris is over. There has been a lot of heartbreak in the last couple years for me, but damn, I love this sport and nothing heals a broken heart like working hard and getting back. See ya out there later this year.”
Emma Coburn has been a mainstay atop the podium for the steeplechase as far back as 2011, when she won her first USA Championship. She is a 10-time USA Champion, Olympic bronze medalist (Rio, 2016), and World Championship gold (London, 2017) and silver (Doha, 2019) medalist. She previously held the American record in the 3000m steeplechase, and has a personal best time of 9:02.35, which was set at those Doha Championships.
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