Note: This content was originally published by the CU Independent
Contact CU Independent Head Sports Editor Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo
The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ended on Sunday, closing the book on the games. The United States led all participating countries with 121 total medals, edging second place Great Britain’s 67 (27 gold medals) and China, which placed third with 70 medals (26 gold medals).
This year’s Summer Olympics saw 207 countries send 11,303 athletes to bring home the gold in more than 300 events. The United States mustered 554 athletes, the most of any participating country.
Out of those 554 top American athletes, two University of Colorado Boulder alumni won medals in the games. Emma Coburn (Class of 2013) and Jenny Simpson (Class of 2009) both won bronze medals for the U.S. They are the first CU graduates to win Olympic medals since Bill Toomey won gold in the decathlon at the 1968 games.
Coburn ran in the Women’s 3000-meter steeplechase and took the bronze medal, becoming the first female athlete to medal for the United States in the event, while Simpson took home the bronze in the Women’s 1,500-meter run.
This past May, Coburn set an American record for the 3000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 9 minutes, 10.76 seconds, coincidentally breaking the record held by Simpson. While attending CU, she won three NCAA titles: two in the steeplechase and one in the indoor mile event.
Simpson’s pre-Rio resume is equally as impressive. While at CU, from 2005-09, she was a three-time NCAA champion in the steeplechase event. She also won gold and silver at the World Championships 1,500-meter run in 2011 and 2013. Simpson also participated in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, but failed to medal.
There were two other Buffaloes to participate in the Olympics this year, but both chose to represent different countries in their respective events.
Flora Duffy (Class of 2013) ran in the Women’s Triathlon for her home country of Bermuda and placed eighth in the event. It was her third Olympic games. Aside from Olympic performances, Duffy won the gold medal at the 2014 and 2015 XTERRA Triathlon World Championships.
Finally, Jeremy Dodson (Class of 2010) ran in the Men’s 200 meters sprinting event for Samoa, placing 34th. During his time at CU, he set a school records in both the indoor and outdoor 200-meter dash, records which still stand.
We at the CU Independent congratulate our Olympic Buffs and hope to see more familiar faces at the 2020 games in Tokyo!
Contact CU Independent Head Sports Editor Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo
The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ended on Sunday, closing the book on the games. The United States led all participating countries with 121 total medals, edging second place Great Britain’s 67 (27 gold medals) and China, which placed third with 70 medals (26 gold medals).
This year’s Summer Olympics saw 207 countries send 11,303 athletes to bring home the gold in more than 300 events. The United States mustered 554 athletes, the most of any participating country.
Out of those 554 top American athletes, two University of Colorado Boulder alumni won medals in the games. Emma Coburn (Class of 2013) and Jenny Simpson (Class of 2009) both won bronze medals for the U.S. They are the first CU graduates to win Olympic medals since Bill Toomey won gold in the decathlon at the 1968 games.
Coburn ran in the Women’s 3000-meter steeplechase and took the bronze medal, becoming the first female athlete to medal for the United States in the event, while Simpson took home the bronze in the Women’s 1,500-meter run.
This past May, Coburn set an American record for the 3000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 9 minutes, 10.76 seconds, coincidentally breaking the record held by Simpson. While attending CU, she won three NCAA titles: two in the steeplechase and one in the indoor mile event.
Simpson’s pre-Rio resume is equally as impressive. While at CU, from 2005-09, she was a three-time NCAA champion in the steeplechase event. She also won gold and silver at the World Championships 1,500-meter run in 2011 and 2013. Simpson also participated in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, but failed to medal.
There were two other Buffaloes to participate in the Olympics this year, but both chose to represent different countries in their respective events.
Flora Duffy (Class of 2013) ran in the Women’s Triathlon for her home country of Bermuda and placed eighth in the event. It was her third Olympic games. Aside from Olympic performances, Duffy won the gold medal at the 2014 and 2015 XTERRA Triathlon World Championships.
Finally, Jeremy Dodson (Class of 2010) ran in the Men’s 200 meters sprinting event for Samoa, placing 34th. During his time at CU, he set a school records in both the indoor and outdoor 200-meter dash, records which still stand.
We at the CU Independent congratulate our Olympic Buffs and hope to see more familiar faces at the 2020 games in Tokyo!
