Sylvia Burka
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Burka is a former ice speed skater
from Canada of Latvian descent, who represented her native country at three consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1972
in Sapporo, Japan.
Despite losing an eye in a childhood accident, Burka was Canada's national junior speed skating champion by age fifteen. Four years later, in 1973, she won the world junior championship.
Burka first Olympic experience featured a fall in the 500m race with Anne Henning. Burka would have probably been disaqualified regardless as she blocked Henning during the lane crossover.
Ill during the 1976 Winter Olympics
, her best result was a fourth in the 1500 m event. However, she recovered to win the world championship two weeks later. In 1977 she won the world sprint speed skating title. Her speed-skating accomplishments also include two world records.
She has also competed in international cycling competitions, finishing 4th in the individual pursuit event at the 1977 world championships and setting a world record while training in 1982. After ending her career in sports Burka became a partner and the financial officer in Cancore Building Services, and a coach.
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
from Canada of Latvian descent, who represented her native country at three consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1972
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
in Sapporo, Japan.
Despite losing an eye in a childhood accident, Burka was Canada's national junior speed skating champion by age fifteen. Four years later, in 1973, she won the world junior championship.
Burka first Olympic experience featured a fall in the 500m race with Anne Henning. Burka would have probably been disaqualified regardless as she blocked Henning during the lane crossover.
Ill during the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
, her best result was a fourth in the 1500 m event. However, she recovered to win the world championship two weeks later. In 1977 she won the world sprint speed skating title. Her speed-skating accomplishments also include two world records.
She has also competed in international cycling competitions, finishing 4th in the individual pursuit event at the 1977 world championships and setting a world record while training in 1982. After ending her career in sports Burka became a partner and the financial officer in Cancore Building Services, and a coach.
- Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and MuseumManitoba Sports Hall of Fame and MuseumThe Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the history of sport in Manitoba and honouring the best in sport. The organization began in 1980 and in 1993, a museum was opened in The Forks...
in 1983