Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | Czech | Australian |
Born | 27 June 1992 |
Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) |
Sport | |
Country | Australia |
Sport | Para-athletics |
Position | javelin thrower |
Disability | Club foot |
Disability class | F44 |
Event | Javelin throw |
League | Athletics Australia |
Club | Sandringham Athletics Club |
Coached by | Nick Baltas |
Achievements and titles | |
Paralympic finals | Tokyo 2020 |
World finals | Paris 2023 |
National finals | Australian championship 2022,2021,2020,2019 |
Personal best | 66.29m |
Medal record |
Michal Burian (born 27 June 1992)[1] is a Czech-born Australian Paralympic javelin thrower. He won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2] Two years later, he secured another silver medal at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. In both competitions, his achievements were clinched during the final round with a clutch throw, proving Burian's ability to perform under pressure.
Burian was born with club foot[3] and grew up in the Czech Republic. He arrived in Australia in 2012, on a six-month visa and speaking little English.[3] He soon decided to settle in Australia permanently, and has since become an Australian citizen.[4] He has completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management.[3] As of 2021[update], he lives in Melbourne and works as a project coordinator.[3]
As a teen in the Czech Republic, Burian watched Olympic javelin champion and world record holder Jan Železný throwing at his local club.[3] By the age of 18, he was a member of the (able-bodied) Czech junior national team. [3] He was then told he should not continue in sport due to his impairment. [3]
Following his arrival in Australia, Burian joined Sandringham Athletics Club. He was classified as an F44 para-athlete in 2020. As of 1 July 2021[update], Burian holds the Australian record for Men’s javelin F44, with a distance of 61.24m.[5]
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's Javelin F64 with a personal best throw of 66.29m and holds the new world record in the F44 category.[6]
Burian won the silver medal at the Men's Javelin F64 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris with a throw of 65.21m in sixth round. [7]
He has been selected to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Paris,France - his second Games. [8]