For any athlete to make it at an international level at one event is an incredible achievement, but to make it in two is virtually unheard of.
But that’s exactly what Melbourne based thrower Michal Burian has done.
Burian is one of the world’s best athletes in the para javelin F44 class, having won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 and a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics in 2024.
He recently swapped disciplines to compete in the F64 discus throw at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, coming in eighth in the competition.
Burian, 34, is the latest to be featured in the Australian Athletics Under The Surface series, created in partnership with Rio Tinto.
As well as a competitive athlete, he coaches in the throws’ disciplines in Melbourne, and he is happy to pass on the wisdom he has gained after a couple of decades in sport.
“This year was a gap year where there was no major competition in javelin,” he told Under the Surface.
“So, it was a great opportunity to rest the shoulder up and explore other things and get excited for the upcoming Paralympics in LA.”
Born in the Czech Republic, Burian credits his childhood for his love of throwing, putting it down to some very simple childhood
“Since a young age I grew up in the country and we had lakes, we had rivers and ever since I was young, I threw rocks,” he said.
‘I would throw rocks across the river and some of the adults weren’t able to do that.
‘That built up my confidence and love of throwing.”
He also cut wood with his family growing up, that further helped him down the track with his throwing.
When Burian moved to Australia in 2012 it was initially supposed to be for a few months to learn another language, but he fell in love with the country and ended up staying and got Australian citizenship a few years later.
Like at his home in the Czech Republic, he worked hard to form a life in Australia and at his sport, eventually being named in the Australian Paralympic team.
“My Visa at that time was only for six months but I loved Australia, so I decided after three months that I never wanted to go back to the Czech Republic,” he said.
‘It was an exciting but very difficult time, I struggled for money and I was working non-stop.”
Now he has competed at the Commonwealth Games in the discus throw, Burian will turn his focus back to the javelin, where he is aiming to get a gold medal to complete the trifecta in his medal cabinet.
He is also working on developing his coaching career, with the support of Australian Athletics resources.
Burian, and his inspiring story, is perfect to be part of the Under The Surface series, created in partnership with Rio Tinto.
By Luke Dennehy and David Tarbotton, Australian Athletics
Posted 26/8/2026
