Corinna Coffin, a hybrid athlete renowned for her prowess in the Tactical Games, embodies the spirit of an underdog who never backs down. Raised on a 100-acre horse farm alongside three brothers, she grew up proving her toughness, a trait that fueled her rise to a second-place finish at the Tactical Games nationals. But in 2022, during a high-intensity obstacle course, disaster struck. “I landed, and my knee caved in,” she recalls. “It was a quick ACL tear, and I couldn’t even walk to the check-in counter.” The pain was excruciating, leaving her with tears streaming down her face on the flight home. For an athlete whose identity thrives on competition, the injury was a gut-wrenching blow.
Determined to reclaim her place in the sport she loves, Corinna sought out Dr. Jeremy Burnham, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Baton Rouge, traveling from another state for his expertise in ACL reconstruction. Dr. Burnham performed an ACL surgery using a quad tendon autograft, carefully preserving the integrity of her quadriceps to optimize recovery. “We took a partial thickness piece of the quad tendon to ensure it still works optimally,” he explained. Supported by Dr. Burnham’s skilled team and a personalized rehab plan, Corinna attacked her recovery with the same intensity she brought to competition.
The journey wasn’t easy. Early on, weight-bearing was a challenge, and rebuilding her quad strength was a slow, deliberate process. “It’s not something that comes quickly,” Corinna says. “You have to trust it’s working, even on days you feel stuck.” Guided by her upbringing—instilled with a big-picture mindset by her parents, including her father, a double Olympic gold medalist in equestrian eventing—she celebrated every small milestone. From single-leg squats to sport-specific drills, she pushed through, bolstered by her husband’s unwavering support during daily training.
Corinna’s grit paid off. Just months after surgery, she passed her return-to-sport testing with a 52/54 score, earning Dr. Burnham’s clearance to compete. “I don’t even think about my knee anymore,” she says, reflecting on her confidence at a Tactical Games event where she volunteered and planned her comeback. Her advice to others? “It’s a journey. Enjoy every small triumph and take one milestone at a time.”
Dr. Burnham’s expertise in ACL surgery and sports medicine, combined with his team’s meticulous care, gave Corinna the foundation to rebuild. Yet, as he emphasizes, her relentless work ethic and competitive spirit were the true drivers of her success. Now, as she trains for her next Tactical Games competition, Corinna’s story inspires athletes everywhere to face adversity with courage and persistence.
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