Emma Coburn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Emma Coburn

Coburn at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1990-10-19) October 19, 1990 (age 34) Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Employer	New Balance
Height	5 ft 8 in
Weight	120 lb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics/Track
Event(s)	Steeplechase, 3000 meters, 1500 meters
College team	Colorado Buffaloes
Coached by	Joe Bosshard
Achievements and titles
World finals	2011 Daegu 3000 m s'chase, 8th 2015 Beijing 3000 m s'chase, 5th 2017 London 3000 m s'chase, 1 Gold 2019 Doha 3000 m s'chase, 2 Silver 2022 Eugene 3000 m s'chase, 8th
Olympic finals	2012 London 3000 m s'chase, 8th 2016 Rio de Janeiro 3000 m s'chase, 3 Bronze 2020 Tokyo 3000 m s'chase, 14th DQ
Personal best(s)	800 m: 2:01.10 (Los Angeles 2020) 1500 m: 4:03.82 (Nashville 2020) Mile: 4:23.65 (Marion 2020) 3000 m: 8:48.60 (Birmingham 2017) 5000 m: 15:24.76 (Austin 2021) 2000 m s'chase: 6:44.42 (Greensboro 2008) 3000 m s'chase: 9:02.35 (Doha 2019) Indoors 1000 m: 2:52.43 (College Station 2009) 1500 m: 4:12.31 (New York 2013) Mile: 4:29.86 i (New York 2013) 2000 m: 5:41.11 (Boston 2015) 3000 m: 8:39.19 i + (Staten Island 2021) 2-Mile: 9:15.71 a (Staten Island 2021) Road Mile: 4:20.3 a (New York 2018)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro 3000 m s'chase World Championships Gold 2017 London 3000 m s'chase Silver 2019 Doha 3000 m s'chase Representing Americas Continental Cup Gold 2014 Marrakech 3000 m s'chase

Emma Jane Coburn (born October 19, 1990) is an American middle-distance runner. She is famous for the 3000-meters steeplechase event. In this race, athletes run over barriers and a water jump.

Emma is a world champion, a world silver medalist, and an Olympic bronze medalist. She has competed in three Olympic Games. She has also won the US National Steeplechase Championship 10 times.

At the 2017 World Championships in London, Emma made history. She won the gold medal, becoming the first American since 1952 to win a world steeplechase title. She also set a new championship record and broke her own American record.

She earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This made her the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the steeplechase. Her time of 9:07.63 was a new American record then.

Emma also won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. She reached the Olympic final in 2012 and World Championship finals in 2011 and 2015. She also won the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup.

Early Running Days: High School Fun

Emma Coburn went to Crested Butte Community School. She was a talented athlete who played many sports. These included cross-country, volleyball, basketball, and track.

In 2007, when she was a junior, something special happened. Her dad encouraged her to try a new race. It was the 2,000-meters steeplechase. Emma had never run it before and knew very little about it.

She ended up winning the race! This unexpected win started her steeplechase journey. In 2008, she placed second in the 2000-meters steeplechase at a national high school meet.

College Years: Becoming a Champion Runner

Emma went to the University of Colorado from 2008 to 2013. There, she became a three-time NCAA champion. She won two steeplechase titles and one indoor mile title. She also earned All-America honors six times.

She ran cross-country from 2008 to 2011. In her senior year, she earned many honors. She helped her team win the PAC-12 title.

In 2009, Emma joined the track team. She tried different events before focusing on the steeplechase. She set a new personal record (PR) and a USA Junior record.

In 2010, Emma won the PAC-12 steeplechase title. She then finished second at the NCAA championships.

In 2011, she won both the PAC-12 indoor 3000-meters title and the PAC-12 3000-meters steeplechase title. She also won the NCAA 3000-meters steeplechase title. Later, she won the 2011 USA outdoor title. This allowed her to join the US team for the 2011 World Championships.

In 2012, Emma focused on the US Olympic Trials. She became one of the fastest Americans in history in the steeplechase. She set a new personal record by 12 seconds.

She qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games. At 21, she was the youngest runner on the US Olympic team. She finished ninth in the final, setting another personal best time.

In 2013, Emma returned to the University of Colorado. She won her second NCAA steeplechase title. This was the final college race of her career.

Professional Career: Racing Around the World

2013: Turning Pro and a Setback

After college, Emma became a professional runner. She signed with New Balance in June 2013. Soon after, she had a sacral stress fracture. This injury meant she missed the 2013 professional track season.

2014: Breaking Records

In 2014, Emma improved her steeplechase time four times. She won her first Diamond League race in Shanghai. She then broke the American record with a time of 9:11.42. She finished her successful season by winning the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup in Morocco.

2015: World Championships

In 2015, Emma qualified for the 2015 World Championships in Athletics. She won the steeplechase at the USATF Championships. At the World Championships, she finished fifth.

2016: Olympic Bronze Medalist

Coburn celebrates her bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In 2016, Emma set a new American record in the 3000 meters steeplechase. She then broke it again at the 2016 Olympic steeplechase. She won the bronze medal, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in this event.

After the Olympics, Emma changed coaches. She started training with Joe Bosshard, who was her fiancé at the time.

2017: World Champion

In January 2017, Emma and her teammates set a world-best time in the Distance Medley Relay. This was a remarkable achievement in the US track community.

Emma Coburn (R) triumphs at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London.

On August 11, Emma won the gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in London. This made her the first American woman to win gold in the steeplechase at a World Championships or Olympics. Another American, Courtney Frerichs, won silver. This was the first time Americans won gold and silver in a long-distance race since 1912.

In November 2017, Emma received the prestigious Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award. This award is given to the top female athlete of the year by USATF.

2018: Strong Performances

In 2018, Emma ran a new Colorado state record for the mile indoors. She also competed in several 3000 meters races. She finished third in the 3000 meters at the 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

2019: World Silver Medalist

Coburn races at the 2019 USATF Championships.

In June 2019, Emma placed second in a Diamond League steeplechase race. In July, she won her eighth USATF Championships title. At the World Championships in Doha, Emma won the silver medal. She also set a new personal record of 9:02.35.

2020: Racing During a Unique Year

Emma started her 2020 season with a third-place finish in a two-mile race. She also ran a half marathon in March.

2021: Third Olympics

In June 2021, Emma qualified for her third Olympic Games. She finished first in the steeplechase at the US Olympic Trials. At the Tokyo Olympics, she fell during the final lap. She was later disqualified for touching the track's railing.

2022: A Special 10th Title

In June 2022, Emma won her 10th national title at the USATF Championship. This win was very emotional for her. She said it made up for her disappointing Tokyo Olympics. She also cherished it because she could share it with her mother, who was battling cancer.

In July, Emma competed in her fifth World Athletics Championships. She finished eighth in the steeplechase final. She also ran in several Diamond League events.

In September, Emma ran in the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City. She finished 10th among the professional women runners.

2023: New Personal Bests

Emma started 2023 by setting a new personal best in the indoor mile. She also ran her fastest indoor 1500 meters.

In February, she joined Team USA for the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Australia. She helped her mixed relay team finish fifth. This was her first team event since college.

2024: Injury and Recovery

In 2024, Emma suffered a serious leg injury during a race. She tore ligaments, damaged cartilage, and fractured a bone. This injury required surgery. Because of this, Emma was unable to compete in the Olympic Trials. She had hoped to qualify for her fourth Olympics.

Achievements: Emma's Top Results

Emma Coburn (R) races at the 2018 USATF Championships.

Here are some of Emma Coburn's best results in major competitions.

International Competitions

Representing the  United States

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	8th	3000 m s'chase	9:51.40
2012	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	8th	3000 m s'chase	9:23.54
2015	World Championships	Beijing, China	5th	3000 m s'chase	9:21.78
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	3rd	3000 m s'chase	9:07.63
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	1st	3000 m s'chase	9:02.58 CR
2019	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	2nd	3000 m s'chase	9:02.35 PR
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	14th DQ	3000 m s'chase	9:41.50
2022	World Championships	Eugene, OR, United States	8th	3000 m s'chase	9:16.49
2023	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	28th (h)	3000 m s'chase	9:41.52

National Championships

Personal Best Times

Personal Life: Beyond the Track

In October 2017, Emma married her longtime boyfriend, Joe Bosshard. Joe also became her coach that year. In October 2024, they welcomed their daughter, Betty Ann Bosshard, born via surrogate.

Emma also started the annual Elk Run 5k. This event helps raise money for the Crested Butte Cancer Support Community.

See also

In Spanish: Emma Coburn para niños

Images for kids

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  Coburn at the 2016 Rio Olympics

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  Coburn celebrates her bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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  Emma Coburn (R) triumphs at the 2017 World Championships in London.

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  Coburn races at the 2019 USATF Championships.

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  Emma Coburn (R) races at the 2018 USATF Championships.