Michal Burian

EVENTS:  Javelin Throw F64

AGE:  32 (DOB 27 Jun 1992)

COACH:  Nick Baltas

ATHLETICS CLUB: Sandringham

PARALYMPIC HISTORY: Tokyo 2020

PERSONAL BESTS: 66.29m (2021)

BIOGRAPHY

Growing up in the Czech Republic, Michal Burian’s grandparents taught him the value of hard work. Living an adventurous lifestyle, Burian would dabble in skiing, cycling, tennis, volleyball and canoeing before eventually deciding that javelin was his niche.
“By the age of 18, I was the second-ranked junior in the Czech Republic and was part of the Czech junior national team preparing towards the European championship in Tallinn Estonia,” Michal said.
But he was soon told that due to his condition, commonly known as ‘club foot’, he should not participate in athletics and instead merely celebrate the fact that he could walk – a suggestion that did not resonate with the determined athlete.
“I was broken, I did not know what to do,” he said.

Enter a fresh start in Australia, where Burian would apply his hardworking nature to adapt to his new lifestyle in a previously foreign country. Speaking little to no English, Burian worked at an Italian restaurant in Melbourne whilst taking English classes to bridge communication barriers.
“My Visa at that time was only for six months but I loved Australia, so I decided after three months that I never want to go back to Czech,” he said.
“It was an exciting but very difficult time. I struggled for money and I was working non-stop.”

Javelin took a back seat as Burian completed a diploma of sport and recreation management, whilst balancing his time between his fiancé Saranya and working for Hughes Brothers Removals.
Embracing the Australian way, the talented athlete worked hard behind the scenes when possible to maintain his javelin prowess – competing regularly over the summer season for his local club Sandringham.

A change in jobs, eased the workload which was putting too much stress on his body. He started a new role as project coordinator with Howgroup Commercial Furniture.

In February 2021 at the Canberra Track & Field Classic, Burian competed in his first meet as an Australian Passport holder, nailing a throw of 58.05m to win the event. At the Australian titles in Sydney in April Burian broke the national record, locking in his eighth Paralympic qualifier of the summer with distance of 61.24m.

On debut in the green and gold, Burian was brilliant at the Tokyo Paralympics. In round four he raised his PB from 63.02m to 63.15m, but it would take another PB of 66.29m to move into second place, past Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakkup. He won silver behind India’s Sumit Sumit who threw a F64 world record of 68.55m.

With a best throw of 63.22m at the 2023 Nationals, Burian was moving into good form ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris where he placed second with a brilliant throw of 65.21m.

His 2024 campaign has been strong throwing 64.46m domestically ahead of selection for his second Paralympics – Paris 2024.

@ 22 Aug 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au