Michal Burian

Michal Burian
Personal information
NationalityCzech | Australian
Born (1992-06-27) 27 June 1992 (age 32)
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportPara-athletics
Positionjavelin thrower
DisabilityClub foot
Disability classF44
EventJavelin throw
LeagueAthletics Australia
ClubSandringham Athletics Club
Coached byNick Baltas
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finalsTokyo 2020
World finalsParis 2023
National finalsAustralian championship 2022,2021,2020,2019
Personal best66.29m
Medal record
Men's para-athletics
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Javelin throw F64
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Javelin throw F64
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Paris Javelin throw F64

Michal Burian (born 27 June 1992)[1] is a Czech-born Australian Paralympic javelin thrower. He won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2] Two years later, he secured another silver medal at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. In both competitions, his achievements were clinched during the final round with a clutch throw, proving Burian's ability to perform under pressure.

Personal

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Burian was born with club foot[3] and grew up in the Czech Republic. He arrived in Australia in 2012, on a six-month visa and speaking little English.[3] He soon decided to settle in Australia permanently, and has since become an Australian citizen.[4] He has completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management.[3] As of 2021, he lives in Melbourne and works as a project coordinator.[3]

Athletics

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Burian with silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

As a teen in the Czech Republic, Burian watched Olympic javelin champion and world record holder Jan Železný throwing at his local club.[3] By the age of 18, he was a member of the (able-bodied) Czech junior national team.[3] He was then told he should not continue in sport due to his impairment.[3]

Following his arrival in Australia, Burian joined Sandringham Athletics Club. He was classified as an F44 para-athlete in 2020. As of 1 July 2021, Burian holds the Australian record for Men’s javelin F44, with a distance of 61.24m.[5]

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's Javelin F64 with a personal best throw of 66.29m and holds the new world record in the F44 category.[6]

Burian won the silver medal at the Men's Javelin F64 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris with a throw of 65.21m in sixth round.[7]

He competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Paris,France - his second Games where he won the bronze medal in Men's Javelin F64.[8]

In 2024, he was awarded an Victorian Institute of Sport Coach Award.

References

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  1. ^ "Michal Burian". Victoria Institute of Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Para-athletics Team Set To 'Do What Australia Does Best' At Tokyo 2020". Paralympics Australia. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Michal Burian's Road to Green and Gold". Athletics Australia. 25 June 2021.
  4. ^ "9 athletes book their ticket to Tokyo". Runner’s Tribe. 19 April 2021.
  5. ^ "AA National Records Database for Para-Athletics" (PDF). 1 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Michael Burian". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Czech, Mate! | Brilliant Burian lands sixth-round silver". Athletics Australia. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Experience And Youth Combine For Paris Games | Paralympics Australia". www.paralympic.org.au. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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