Emma Coburn
Career
Active 2007 – present
Biography
About Emma Coburn
American middle-distance runner Emma Coburn was born on October 19, 1990, in Boulder, Colorado. She specializes in the 3000-meter steeplechase and has been active since 2007. Coburn is a three-time Olympian and a ten-time US National Champion in the event. She won gold at the 2017 World Championships in London, becoming the first American since 1952 to claim a world steeplechase title. Her time of 9:02.58 set a championship record and broke her own American record by five seconds. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, she took the bronze medal, the first American woman to medal in an Olympic steeplechase event. Her time of 9:07.63 set a then-new American record. She also earned silver at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and competed in World Championship finals in 2011 (10th) and 2015 (5th). In 2014, she won the IAAF Continental Cup.
Coburn is 5'8" and slim, with blonde hair. She has been a consistent presence in the steeplechase, reaching the 2012 Olympic final and finishing eighth. Her national titles came in 2011, 2012, 2014 through 2019, and 2021 and 2022. She remains one of the most decorated American steeplechasers. Her career spans nearly two decades, and she continues to compete at a high level. At 35, she has achieved nearly every major honor in her sport. She is straight and identifies as Caucasian. Coburn grew up in the steeplechase hotbed of Boulder and has become a role model for aspiring runners. Her achievements have solidified her legacy in American track and field. She is active on Instagram with a large following, sharing glimpses into her training and competitions. Coburn's blend of speed and endurance has made her a formidable competitor on the world stage. She is proud to represent the United States in international competition.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
What is Emma Coburn's most notable achievement?
She won gold at the 2017 World Championships, the first American to do so in the steeplechase since 1952.
How many Olympic Games has she competed in?
She has competed in three Olympic Games: 2012, 2016, and 2020.
What is her personal best time in the steeplechase?
Her personal best is 9:02.58, set at the 2017 World Championships.
Did you know
- She is a ten-time US National Champion, winning the steeplechase in every year she competed from 2011 through 2022.
- Her Olympic bronze in 2016 was the first ever for an American woman in the steeplechase.
Help improve this profile
Spot something wrong or missing? Fix a detail, add a link, or share a fact. Every submission is reviewed before it goes live.
Are you Emma Coburn?


















