Emma Coburn - The Rebel

TRACK & FIELD - STEEPLECHASE

ARCHETYPE: THE REBEL

Day 12/135

Athletic Accomplishments

Have you ever run a 3000m steeplechase? Me neither, but it seems pretty rad. For the uninitiated, a steeplechase is 7.5 laps around the track (just shy of 2 miles), jumping over sturdy horse hurdles while jockeying for position. There's even a water feature that runners try to leap over. To win, you need strategy, stretchy legs, stamina, and speed. My girl Emma Coburn has all of that and then some.

Coburn is an 8-time U.S. National Champion, who owns the American record for steeplechase (9:02.58). She has earned her stripes and hardware, including a bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games. She was also the first American woman to win a gold medal in steeplechase with her win at the 2017 World Championships.

Character Archetype: The Rebel

The Rebel
Coburn has that "all-American" girl look, right? The blonde, straight hair and innocent blue eyes. The kind smile. But don't be fooled because she is no pushover softie. Emma Coburn does things her way.

A little backstory... In track and field, many have complained about the iron grip that Nike has over athletes. They are simply the biggest show in town—big contracts, big money, big visibility. But athletes have indicated that Nike's contracts also limit them: they may have to cede control over their image and coaching staff in ways that they don't want to.

But, Emma Coburn is sponsored by New Balance. And she didn't want Nike to get all the shine for her big moment. When she won her gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in the Team USA Nike uniform, she stood on the podium barefoot and had her track shoes dangled over her shoulder to show off those New Balance logos. For some, it was subversive and barely noticeable, aside from her bare feet. But for others, it was a big F-U to the Nike marketing giants, whose swoosh was strategically covered by New Balances in every podium snapshot. Coburn's strategic and bold moves didn't just come on the track that day... She won the gold AND the moment.