Mike Burton (swimming)
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Burton (born July 3, 1947) is former World-Record-holding
, American
swimmer who won gold in the 400 m and 1500 m frees at the 1968 Summer Olympics
and in the 1500 m at the 1972 Summer Olympics
.
When he was an eight grader he was hit by a furniture truck while riding a bicycle with a friend. The accident caused injuries that made him have to quit contact sports. He loved to play football and basketball, but the accident made him want to be the best swimmer in the world.
Burton graduated from El Camino Fundamental High School
. At the 1967 University Games swimming competition
in Tokyo, he won a gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, ahead of Russian Semyon Belits-Geiman
.
At the 1972 Olympics, Burton became the only American ever to repeat as the Olympic 1500 free champion, also recapturing the World Record in the process. Burton's repeat proved a stunning win. In the Spring of 1972 he had been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency, and at the USA Olympic Trials had barely made the Olympic Team, qualifying 8th for the final and then finishing third to make the team (at the time, a country could enter up to 3 athletes per event in swimming).
The celebration in Munich of his historic repeat; however, was overshadowed by Mark Spitz
's performance at those Games and by the terrorist attack on the Olympic Village
, which occurred the day after his race.
Burton coached the Seahawks in Billings, Montana
at the local YMCA. His daughter Loni, embarked on a her own successful swimming career. She is one of just two swimmers in NCAA history to win twelve individual titles. She was able to perform the feat in just three years as Division II swimmers are eligible to participate in four individual events versus three in Division I and III.
World record progression 1500 metres freestyle
The first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...
, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer who won gold in the 400 m and 1500 m frees at 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...
and in the 1500 m at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
When he was an eight grader he was hit by a furniture truck while riding a bicycle with a friend. The accident caused injuries that made him have to quit contact sports. He loved to play football and basketball, but the accident made him want to be the best swimmer in the world.
Burton graduated from El Camino Fundamental High School
El Camino Fundamental High School
El Camino Fundamental High School is an American public high school in Sacramento, California in the San Juan Unified School District. Built in 1950 as El Camino High School, "Fundamental" was added to the name in the late 1970s to signify the school's intention to focus upon basic ...
. At the 1967 University Games swimming competition
Swimming at the Universiade
Swimming is one of the sports at the biennial Universiade competition. It has been one of the event's competed sports since the inaugural edition. After not being included in 1975.-Editions:-External links:*...
in Tokyo, he won a gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, ahead of Russian Semyon Belits-Geiman
Semyon Belits-Geiman
Semyon Viktorovich Belits-Geiman is a former Soviet freestyle swimmer. He set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle, and won two Olympic medals.-Early life:Belits-Geiman is Jewish, and was born in Moscow...
.
At the 1972 Olympics, Burton became the only American ever to repeat as the Olympic 1500 free champion, also recapturing the World Record in the process. Burton's repeat proved a stunning win. In the Spring of 1972 he had been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency, and at the USA Olympic Trials had barely made the Olympic Team, qualifying 8th for the final and then finishing third to make the team (at the time, a country could enter up to 3 athletes per event in swimming).
The celebration in Munich of his historic repeat; however, was overshadowed by Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz
Mark Andrew Spitz is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics....
's performance at those Games and by the terrorist attack on the Olympic Village
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
, which occurred the day after his race.
Burton coached the Seahawks in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
at the local YMCA. His daughter Loni, embarked on a her own successful swimming career. She is one of just two swimmers in NCAA history to win twelve individual titles. She was able to perform the feat in just three years as Division II swimmers are eligible to participate in four individual events versus three in Division I and III.