Thomas Burke (athlete) facts for kids
Thomas Burke in 1918
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | January 15, 1875 Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Died | February 14, 1929 (aged 54) Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Alma mater | Boston University School of Law | |||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 146 lb | |||||||||||||
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| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100-800 m | |||||||||||||
| Club | Boston Athletic Association | |||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m – 11.2 (1895) 200 m – 22.6 (1897) 400 m – 48.5 (1896) 800 m – 1:55.9 (1897) |
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Medal record
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Thomas Edmund "Tom" Burke (born January 15, 1875 – died February 14, 1929) was an American runner. He made history by becoming the very first Olympic champion in both the 100-meter and 400-meter dash races.
Contents
Thomas Burke's Early Life and Olympic Wins
Tom Burke was a student at Boston University School of Law. He was already a well-known runner in the 400 meters and 440 yards. In 1895, he won a big title in the 440 yards from the AAU.
The First Modern Olympics
In 1896, the very first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Many of the world's best sprinters were not there. This gave Tom Burke a chance to shine. He surprised everyone by winning the 100 meters race.
Tom Burke was also famous for his special "crouch start." This is how most runners start races today, but back then, it was very unusual! In the final of the 100 meters, he finished in 12.0 seconds. In an earlier race, he ran even faster, at 11.8 seconds.
At the same Olympics, Tom Burke also won the 400 meters race. This was his best event. He ran the preliminary race in 58.4 seconds and the final in 54.2 seconds. He finished first in both races.
After the Olympics
Later in his running career, Tom Burke started focusing on longer races. He won more titles in the 440 yards and 880 yards events.
In 1897, Tom Burke helped start the Boston Marathon. This famous race is still held every year! He was inspired by the success of the marathon event at the 1896 Olympics.
Life Beyond Running
After his running career, Tom Burke became a lawyer. But he also stayed involved in sports. He worked as an athletics coach, helping other runners. He was also a part-time journalist, writing for newspapers like The Boston Journal and the Boston Post.
During World War I, Tom Burke joined the military. He became a first lieutenant. At 43 years old, he was the oldest person in the U.S. military to earn his aviator's wings, meaning he learned to fly planes!
Tom Burke passed away at the age of 53. He collapsed on a ferry boat traveling from Winthrop to Boston.
