Edward Burke (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Edward Andrew Burke (born March 4, 1940) was an American
hammer throw
er, especially famous for carrying the flag of the United States
at the Olympics
in Los Angeles 1984. He was born in Ukiah, California
. His best result at the Olympics was the 7th place in the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo.
He also threw in the 1968 Summer Olympics
, coming in as a favorite after setting the U.S. record of 235' 11" at the 1967 AAU Championships in Bakersfield, California
(the same meet Jim Ryun
ran his long standing 3:51.1 mile), then the number two performance in history. After being (unjustly) called for a foul on his first two throws, he was so disappointed in his results that he retired from the sport following the Olympics. In 1979, he watched the World Cup on television with his daughters who had never seen dad throw. He marveled at the relative small size of champion Sergei Litvinov (URS). Just shy of his 40th birthday, he decided to give the Hammer one more whirl. After training he made the United States team at the first IAAF World Championships
, and achieved his lifetime best of 243' 11" in the process of qualifying for his third Olympics at age 44 (a feat his contemporary Al Oerter
also attempted and failed that year). He was the first American to achieve qualifying for Olympic teams 20 years apart (since equalled by Francie Larrieu-Smith
, also from the San Jose area, in 1992). Being the oldest member of the team and a remarkable story, he was selected to carry the flag in the hometown Olympic Opening Ceremonies by the team captains.
Thrower Mac Wilkins
in forming Explorer Post 813 in San Jose, California
, dedicated to introducing boys to the art of throwing. They constructed throwing cages next to Highway 85, enlisting the help of other world-class athletes training in the hotbed San Jose area. 30 graduates of their program have gone on to throw for NCAA Division I schools, two of them Dave Popejoy and Kevin McMahon
made U.S. Olympic teams.
External links
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
er, especially famous for carrying the flag of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
in Los Angeles 1984. He was born in Ukiah, California
Ukiah, California
The average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
. His best result at the Olympics was the 7th place in the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo.
He also threw in the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, coming in as a favorite after setting the U.S. record of 235' 11" at the 1967 AAU Championships in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
(the same meet Jim Ryun
Jim Ryun
James Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
ran his long standing 3:51.1 mile), then the number two performance in history. After being (unjustly) called for a foul on his first two throws, he was so disappointed in his results that he retired from the sport following the Olympics. In 1979, he watched the World Cup on television with his daughters who had never seen dad throw. He marveled at the relative small size of champion Sergei Litvinov (URS). Just shy of his 40th birthday, he decided to give the Hammer one more whirl. After training he made the United States team at the first IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships may refer to any of the World Championship events organized by the IAAF:* IAAF World Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Cross Country Championships...
, and achieved his lifetime best of 243' 11" in the process of qualifying for his third Olympics at age 44 (a feat his contemporary Al Oerter
Al Oerter
Alfred Adolf Oerter, Jr. was an American athlete, and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw....
also attempted and failed that year). He was the first American to achieve qualifying for Olympic teams 20 years apart (since equalled by Francie Larrieu-Smith
Francie Larrieu-Smith
Francis Ann "Francie" Larrieu Smith was an American track and field athlete, flagbearer at the Barcelona 1992 for the United States of America. Larrieu-Smith was the first female American athlete to make five Olympic teams, a feat equaled in 2008 by swimmer Dara Torres.Since 1999 she is cross...
, also from the San Jose area, in 1992). Being the oldest member of the team and a remarkable story, he was selected to carry the flag in the hometown Olympic Opening Ceremonies by the team captains.
Promoting throwing
Following the Olympics, he again retired to tend the Los Gatos Athletic Club. He joined fellow Olympian, DiscusDiscus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
Thrower Mac Wilkins
Mac Wilkins
Maurice "Mac" Wilkins is an American athlete, who competed mainly in the discus throw. He was born in Eugene, Oregon....
in forming Explorer Post 813 in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, dedicated to introducing boys to the art of throwing. They constructed throwing cages next to Highway 85, enlisting the help of other world-class athletes training in the hotbed San Jose area. 30 graduates of their program have gone on to throw for NCAA Division I schools, two of them Dave Popejoy and Kevin McMahon
Kevin McMahon
Kevin Michael McMahon is a musician, singer, and songwriter for the long-standing bands Lucky Pierre and Prick....
made U.S. Olympic teams.
Masters
21 years after his second retirement, he returned to competition in the 65 year old division. and promptly set the World Record for his age division. After turning 70 in 2010, he did it again in his new age division.Achievements
| Representing the | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | World Championships | Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
20th | 69.12 m |
External links
- Profile of Ed Burke at Sports Reference