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Mike Burton

Updated:2008-05-13 09:33 | Source:beijing2008

Mexico City, 23 October 1968: Michael BURTON of the United States, 1st, in action in the 400m freestyle swimming during the Games of the XIX Olympiad. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections
Mexico City, 23 October 1968: Michael BURTON of the United States, 1st, 
in action in the 400m freestyle swimming during the Games of the XIX Olympiad.
 Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections

Born: 3 June 1947

Birthplace: Des Moines (United States)

Nationality: United States

Sport: Aquatics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Mexico 1968

Munich 1972

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Swimming Through Adversity

The son of a truck driver, Mike Burton's swimming career began when, at the age of thirteen, he was hit head-on by a truck while bicycling. After spending eight weeks in a hospital with a dislocated hip and torn ligaments in his right leg, he was told that swimming was the only sport he could pursue. Burton qualified for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in two events.

The day before the qualifying heats for the 400m, Burton woke up feeling nauseated and later fainted in an elevator in the Olympic Village. He qualified anyway. In the final, Burton took charge before the halfway mark and pulled away to win by more than 2 ½ seconds. Three days later, Burton, now fully recovered, won the 1,500m by 18.4 seconds, a margin of victory that has not been matched since. Burton returned to the Olympics in 1972 to defend his 1,500m title.

This time, he moved ahead of Graham Windeatt of Australia after 1,200m and just barely set a world record to secure the third gold medal of his career.

(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)

Editor : LiuAnqi

Opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics