US steeplechase athlete Emma Coburn recently faced a setback in her athletic career after breaking her ankle during a competition in Shanghai last month. The incident occurred during a water jump in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event at the Diamond League meet in China, forcing Coburn to withdraw from the race.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Coburn revealed that she underwent surgery to address the ankle injury, which involved cleaning the cartilage and having a screw inserted in the joint. Unfortunately, this injury has dashed her hopes of competing at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Coburn, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a holder of two world championship medals, expressed her disappointment at missing out on the opportunity to participate in her fourth Olympics. Despite the setback, she remains determined to return to the sport and is looking forward to competing later this year.
Initially mistaking the injury for a sprain, Coburn later discovered through medical imaging that she had torn ligaments, damaged cartilage, and a fracture in her medial malleolus. The 33-year-old athlete is expected to resume jogging in six weeks as part of her recovery process.
The US Olympic trials are scheduled to take place in Eugene, Oregon, next month, leading up to the Paris Games set to commence on July 26. While Coburn will not be able to participate in the trials, she is focused on her rehabilitation and eventual return to competitive steeplechase racing.
