Thomas Burke (sprinter)

Thomas Edward Burke (January 15, 1875 – September 16, 1929) was an American athlete and lawyer who won two gold medals at the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens, Greece.

Burke competed in the 100 meters and 400 meters races. He won the 100 meters in 12.0 seconds and the 400 meters in 54.2 seconds. He is notable for using a crouch start, which was then a controversial and unconventional technique. While not widely adopted at the time, Burke argued it allowed for a more powerful initial acceleration. His unusual starting style, with his hands digging into the track, drew considerable attention.

Beyond his Olympic achievements, Burke was a successful lawyer and a journalist. He graduated from Boston University School of Law and practiced law for many years. He also wrote articles on sports and current events for various newspapers and magazines. He served as a volunteer coach for track and field teams.