Destroyed! Emma Coburn's Medal Broken by TSA after Olympic Trials

Destroyed! Emma Coburn's Medal Broken by TSA after Olympic Trials

Emma Coburn is set to represent the United States at the Rio Games after winning the Olympic Trials steeplechase in an impressive time of 9:17.48. Although

Jul 11, 2016
Destroyed! Emma Coburn's Medal Broken by TSA after Olympic Trials
Emma Coburn is set to represent the United States at the Rio Games after winning the Olympic Trials steeplechase in an impressive time of 9:17.48. Although her Olympic dream remains intact, the same cannot be said about her gold medal.

She packed it in her checked luggage before flying home to Boulder, Colorado. Unfortunately, the medal was damaged in-transit by the TSA.

Coburn posted a photo on Twitter with the caption, “Unpacking from the Olympic Trials. Looks like TSA broke my medal. Big piece of glass broken off and missing.”


Earlier this year, Coburn set a personal record of 9:10.78 in the 3000m steeplechase, and improved her time from the 2012 Trials by 15 seconds. This will be her second Olympic berth; she placed ninth at the 2012 Games in London. With her improved time, Coburn is expected to contend for a medal. She will be joined by Colleen Quigley and Courtney Frerichs, both of whom will represent the United States for the first time at the Olympic Games.