Brendan Burkett
Encyclopedia
Brendan Burkett is a Paralympic swimming
competitor from Australia who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
in the Men's 50 m Freestyle S9 event.
degree from the Central Queensland University
, and Master of Engineering
and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees in Biomechanics
from the Queensland University of Technology
.
In 2008, while he was camping with his family in Noosa, Queensland
, someone stole his artificial waterproof leg.
in the Men's 50 m Freestyle S9 event. He also won a silver medal at the same games in the Men's 4x100 m Freestyle S7-10 event. At the 1996 games, he was captain of Australia's Paralympic team. In 1998, he was the Ambassador for the Sydney Paralympic Games. He retired from competitive swimming following his participation at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
.
Burkett has been involved in the Australian Paralympic movement as a researcher. He was the Australian Paralympic swimming team's national sport science coordinator for 2002 World Championships, the 2004 Paralympic Games, and the 2006 World Championship.
, where he was also serving as the director of the Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise. His research areas include human health and performance, sports biomechanics and technology and software developments in human health and performance.
. In 2007, Burkett became a member of Swimming Queensland's Hall of Fame. He was give the Outstanding Service to Swimming Australia Award in 2009.
Paralympic swimming
Paralympic swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. Paralympic swimming is contested not only at the Summer Paralympic Games, but at disabled sports competitions throughout the world...
competitor from Australia who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
in the Men's 50 m Freestyle S9 event.
Personal
He has a Bachelor of EngineeringBachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
degree from the Central Queensland University
Central Queensland University
CQUniversity is an Australian public university based in Queensland. Its main campus is in North Rockhampton Queensland. However, it also has campuses in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay, as well as operations throughout Asia-Pacific. For instance, Melior Business School is one of its...
, and Master of Engineering
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
and Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degrees in Biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
from the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
.
In 2008, while he was camping with his family in Noosa, Queensland
Noosa, Queensland
The Shire of Noosa was a Local Government Area located about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast region of South East Queensland, Australia...
, someone stole his artificial waterproof leg.
Paralympics
Burkett has competed and represented Australia as a national swimming competitor for 11 years. He won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
in the Men's 50 m Freestyle S9 event. He also won a silver medal at the same games in the Men's 4x100 m Freestyle S7-10 event. At the 1996 games, he was captain of Australia's Paralympic team. In 1998, he was the Ambassador for the Sydney Paralympic Games. He retired from competitive swimming following his participation at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
.
Burkett has been involved in the Australian Paralympic movement as a researcher. He was the Australian Paralympic swimming team's national sport science coordinator for 2002 World Championships, the 2004 Paralympic Games, and the 2006 World Championship.
Academics
In 1998, he became a professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast. , he was the acting dean of the Faculty of Science, Health and Education at the University of the Sunshine CoastUniversity of the Sunshine Coast
The University of the Sunshine Coast is a public university based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Having opened in 1996 as the Sunshine Coast University College with 524 students, the institution was renamed the University of the Sunshine Coast in 1999. In 2011, the student body was...
, where he was also serving as the director of the Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise. His research areas include human health and performance, sports biomechanics and technology and software developments in human health and performance.
Recognition
In 1988, he won the Australia Day Sporting Award. In 1997, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). In 2000, he was awarded the Professional Engineer of the Year Award by the Institution of Engineers Australia. In 2000, he was Olympic torch relay member for the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. In 2007, Burkett became a member of Swimming Queensland's Hall of Fame. He was give the Outstanding Service to Swimming Australia Award in 2009.