Key Points:
– Coburn, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, suffers ankle injury in Shanghai
– Ankle surgery rules her out of Olympic Trials and Paris Olympics
– Despite setback, Coburn remains determined to return to the sport
Details:
US steeplechase athlete Emma Coburn has announced that her hopes of competing at the Paris Olympics this year have been dashed after a devastating ankle injury. The 33-year-old, who won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, fractured her ankle during a water jump in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai.
In an Instagram post, Coburn revealed the extent of her injury, stating that she underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments, damaged cartilage, and a fracture in her ankle. This unfortunate turn of events has forced her to withdraw from the upcoming Olympic Trials, effectively ending her pursuit of a spot at the Paris Games.
Despite facing this setback, Coburn remains resilient, expressing her love for the sport and determination to make a comeback. She mentioned that the road to recovery includes jogging in six weeks and aiming to return to competition later this year.
Coburn, who also boasts a gold medal from the 2017 world championships and a silver from 2019, was eyeing her fourth Olympic appearance before the injury. The US Olympic trials are slated to take place in Eugene, Oregon, next month, with the Paris Olympics scheduled to kick off on July 26.