Emma Coburn Wins Medal In Steeplechase

The very first American woman to win a medal in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase goes to Emma Coburn. Claiming a bronze the Olympian couldn’t be happier – breaking her own American record.

Coburn reached the podium with a time of 9:07:63. She is the first American woman to see the podium since the event was introduced to the Olympic program back in 2008.

Even though Emma felt that she could have given a bit more in the last lap of the race, she is stoked that she placed third in the entire world. Not to mention the fact that the race started with false start, which is rare for a event that is non-sprinting,

Emma is a feminine name taken from a shortened form of a Germanic name, which started with the element = ermen meaning “universal” or “whole”. Originally introduced by Emma of Normandy to England who was the wife of king Canute and king Ethelred II. The name was also given to the Austrian saint Hemma in the 11th-century.

The name became popular in England after the Norman Conquest. Even being revived in the 18th century when Matthew Prior’s poem “Henry and Emma” became popular. The name was even used as one of the main characters in a Jane Austen novel – Emma.

Nowadays, the name is popular all over the world, from Emma Frost a comic book character to Emma Marrone the Italian singer. Now the list of notable Emmas will include Emma Coburn.