"Disappointing return to racing" - World champion Emma Coburn forced out of competition again with an ankle injury at Shanghai Diamond League 2024

American middle-distance runner Emma Coburn has opened up after not being able to finish the 3000m steeplechase race at the Shanghai Diamond League 2024 held in Suzhou.

Coburn sustained a hamstring injury last year during the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2023 in July where she finished second to Krissy Gear (9:12.81) with a time of 9:13.60, earning a place in the USA squad for the World Championships. Despite not being fully recovered, Coburn went on to compete at the Worlds where she finished 28th overall in the heats.

Having returned to competition for the first time since the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, the steeplechaser had a forgettable event as she couldn’t finish the race held in China.

After failing to cross the finish line in Saturday’s event, the ten-time USA national champion took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the reason behind her not completing the event, stating:

“Dang it. Tweaked my ankle on a water jump with 1k to go. Had to DNF. I’ll be okay, just a disappointing return to racing after ending last season with my hamstring injury.”

Although Coburn was very disappointed with how things turned out for her, she expressed her happiness for her compatriot Gabrielle Jennings who came in fifth in the 3000m steeplechase event at the Shanghai Diamond League:

“Very very happy for my teammate Gabbi Jennings for her new PR 9:19 and 5th place!”

The 2022 NACAC champion Jennings registered a new personal best (PB) as she ran a sensational 9:19.59 in the race, which was dominated by two-time Diamond League champion, Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya, who won in a time of 9:07.36.

A look into Emma Coburn’s career highlights

Emma Coburn poses with her gold medal for the Women's 3000 metres Steeplechase at the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

One of the biggest highlights from Emma Coburn’s career was winning the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics 2016. In the finals of the 3000m steeplechase, she finished only behind Ruth Jebet (8:59.75), and Hyvin Jepkemoi (9:07.12) to secure third place in a time of 9:07.63.

The following year in London, Coburn tasted success at the World Athletics Championships in 2017 as she became the gold medalist in her signature event, recording a Championship and North American record time of 9:02.58.

In Doha, the American added a second medal to her World Championships tally as she bagged the silver, finishing behind Chepkoech, with a time of 9:02.35 in 2019.