Paris Olympics 2024: Unraveling the Thrills of the Steeplechase

As the track and field events commence at the Paris Olympics, here’s an overview of the steeplechase.

PARIS, France — Among the exhilarating track and field events at the Summer Olympics, the steeplechase stands out.

The men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final is slated for Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

In the realm of track events, if repetitive laps around a track don’t excite you, then the steeplechase might capture your interest.

Steeplechase covers a distance of 3,000 meters, consisting of 7.5 laps. Throughout this distance, athletes must clear four 30-inch barriers and one water pit per lap.

The initial half-lap is a straightforward run, with hurdles beginning as the runners approach seven laps remaining. Runners then navigate the water pit, aiming to leap across the 10-foot span and land smoothly.

This demanding sequence of hurdles and water jumps continues for seven full laps.

In total, a 3,000-meter steeplechase race includes 28 barriers and seven water jumps.

Emma Coburn, a celebrated athlete from the University of Colorado, won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics’ 3,000-meter steeplechase. In 2021, she provided an insightful tutorial about the event, using Legos to illustrate her points.

Regrettably, Coburn was sidelined from the Olympic Trials in June and missed a chance for a fourth Olympic appearance after breaking her right ankle in May during her first race of 2024.