Timothy Burke
Encyclopedia
Timothy John "Tim" Burke (born February 3, 1982 in Paul Smiths, New York
) is a U.S.
biathlete
. At the 2007 World Championships
in Antholz
, he made US history by finishing 7th in the men's 20 km race. On December 20, 2009, he became the first ever US biathlete to lead the overall Biathlon World Cup
.
Burke's formative years were plagued by ill health. Most critically, he had career-threatening hip problems in 2002, eventually managing a full recovery after surgery. He also suffered from mononucleosis
.
in the latter half of the 2003-04 season at Ruhpolding
, Germany
. This season also marked Burke's first World Championships
; however, he failed to make an international impact, not achieving any World Cup points.
Burke made his first US Olympic
team in 2006, and came quite close to achieving his first World Cup points (the Olympics being part of the Biathlon World Cup), placing 35th in the sprint and 36th in the following pursuit
. However, his moment of international attention came as Jay Hakkinen
surprisingly brought the US team to the first exchange in first place. Burke, on the second leg, thus had the honour of leading the Olympic relay. However, this did not last long, as US dropped to 8th place on Burke's leg with him needing all three spare rounds in both shootings; they eventually finished 9th.
Per Nilsson of Sweden
became the head coach of team US in 2006. Burke, whose results soon improved markedly under Nilsson's guidance, credits the Swede with "teaching me what hard training really looks like." The 2006-07 season
was a great success for Burke, who got the first World Cup point of his career already in the season-opening 20 km individual at Östersund
, Sweden with a 30th place and followed up with another five points finishes, including the first top 10 finish of his World Cup career in a sprint at Hochfilzen
, Austria
. Burke got his season-best 6th place finish in a mass start at Pokljuka
, Slovenia
on January 21, 2007. At the World Championships
in Antholz
, Italy
, Burke placed 7th in the individual competition. He eventually finished a very respectable 25th in the overall World Cup standings.
The 2007-08 season
was a disappointment as Burke suffered from health problems again and failed to improve on the previous year, finishing 29th in the overall World Cup. However, Burke finished that year on a high note as in the second-last race of the season, a pursuit at Holmenkollen
, Oslo
, Norway
he became the first ever US biathlete to have the best scratch time in a World Cup competition; though as he entered the pursuit from a meager 45th place, he still only finished 7th. In the last race, a mass start, he placed 8th despite four penalty loops. These were his best finishes that year.
, Sweden
, the opener of the 2009-10 World Cup season, Burke became the second ever US biathlete to finish 2nd in a Biathlon World Cup competition. (Josh Thompson
had been the first.) Burke continued to produce solid results in the following competitions, consistently finishing in the top 20. This solidity - combined with the absence of Norwegian World Cup leader Emil Hegle Svendsen
from the third competition weekend
at Pokljuka
, Slovenia
and the disastrous 103rd place of Austria's Christoph Sumann
in the Pokljuka sprint - meant that on December 20, 2009 Burke, despite never winning a World Cup race, became the first ever US biathlete to capture the overall World Cup lead.
Burke initially held that position for just one competition, as he only finished 19th in a 10 km sprint at Oberhof
, Germany
in adverse weather conditions. The winner, Evgeny Ustyugov
of Russia
, in turn captured the World Cup leader's yellow bib for the first time in his career. However, Burke recaptured the lead in the very next race (the first mass start of the season) by matching his career-best 2nd place finish.
Burke then entered a slump with a season-worst 31st place the next weekend
in a sprint at Ruhpolding
. His bad form continued at Antholz
, Italy
, as he finished 29th in the 20 km individual competition and 21st in the sprint.
by finishing 47th in the 10 km sprint race, his worst placing of the season to date. The conditions were unequal as early starters had decent weather while the middle of the pack had to combat a storm of wet snow; Burke, who belonged to the latter group, described the race as "the most unfair competition I’ve ever raced in." (Teammate Jeremy Teela
finished 9th in that race, the best Olympic result yet for a US biathlete.) The pursuit
wasn't much better as Burke struggled with shooting, finishing 46th with five penalty loops. The individual 20 km
seemed to be going better as Burke was 19th after three shootings; however, he missed three shots in the last shooting and finished 45th.
Burke was guaranteed to improve on his career best Olympic finish of 35th place in the last individual event, the 15 km mass start
, as only 30 biathletes qualified. This was in any case Burke's best competition, as despite four misses (all of them from the standing stages) good skiing salvaged him an 18th place, 1 minute 9 seconds behind gold medalist Ustyugov.
, Russia
, where he finished 11th despite one miss at both shooting stages. Thanks to his strong early season, he still finished a career-best 14th in the overall World Cup.
Paul Smiths, New York
Paul Smiths is a hamlet in the Town of Brighton in Franklin County, New York, on Lower Saint Regis Lake, in the Adirondacks, 10 miles north of Saranac Lake, located at 44°26' North 74°15' West....
) is a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biathlete
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
. At the 2007 World Championships
Biathlon World Cup
The Biathlon World Cup has been held since the winter seasons of 1977/78 and 1982/83, for men and women, respectively ....
in Antholz
Rasen-Antholz
Rasen-Antholz is a municipality in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 60 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
, he made US history by finishing 7th in the men's 20 km race. On December 20, 2009, he became the first ever US biathlete to lead the overall Biathlon World Cup
Biathlon World Cup
The Biathlon World Cup has been held since the winter seasons of 1977/78 and 1982/83, for men and women, respectively ....
.
Early career
Burke first took up biathlon in 1997 and soon became a promising prospect on the national level, first competing for the United States in Biathlon World Junior Championships in 2000. Burke competed in the World Junior Championships another three times, but without ever finishing in the top 10.Burke's formative years were plagued by ill health. Most critically, he had career-threatening hip problems in 2002, eventually managing a full recovery after surgery. He also suffered from mononucleosis
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis , is a disease most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus . The EBV virus affects the lymphocytes- white blood cells that battle infections by attacking antibodies. Mononucleosis can also be caused by Cytomegalovirus , a herpes virus most commonly found in body fluids...
.
World Cup career
Burke debuted in the Biathlon World CupBiathlon World Cup
The Biathlon World Cup has been held since the winter seasons of 1977/78 and 1982/83, for men and women, respectively ....
in the latter half of the 2003-04 season at Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding is a municipality of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps. Ruhpolding has a population of approximately 6,400....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. This season also marked Burke's first World Championships
Biathlon World Championships 2004
The 39th Biathlon World Championships were held in 2004 in Oberhof, Germany.-10 km sprint:-12,5 km pursuit:-15 km mass start:-20 km individual:-4 x 7.5 km relay:-7.5 km sprint:-10 km pursuit:-12.5 km mass start:...
; however, he failed to make an international impact, not achieving any World Cup points.
Burke made his first US Olympic
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
team in 2006, and came quite close to achieving his first World Cup points (the Olympics being part of the Biathlon World Cup), placing 35th in the sprint and 36th in the following pursuit
Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's pursuit
The Men's 12.5 kilometre biathlon pursuit competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy was held on 18 February, at Cesana San Sicario. Competitors raced over five loops of a 2.5 kilometre skiing course, shooting twenty times, ten prone and ten standing...
. However, his moment of international attention came as Jay Hakkinen
Jay Hakkinen
Jay Hakkinen is a professional biathlete from Kasilof, Alaska. He is a four-time American Olympian, and his 10th-place finish in the 20-kilometer individual race at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy was the best finish ever by an American biathlete.-Background:At the age of three, Hakkinen...
surprisingly brought the US team to the first exchange in first place. Burke, on the second leg, thus had the honour of leading the Olympic relay. However, this did not last long, as US dropped to 8th place on Burke's leg with him needing all three spare rounds in both shootings; they eventually finished 9th.
Per Nilsson of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
became the head coach of team US in 2006. Burke, whose results soon improved markedly under Nilsson's guidance, credits the Swede with "teaching me what hard training really looks like." The 2006-07 season
2006-07 Biathlon World Cup
The 2006−07 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union. The season lasted from 29 November 2006 to 18 March 2007....
was a great success for Burke, who got the first World Cup point of his career already in the season-opening 20 km individual at Östersund
Östersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
, Sweden with a 30th place and followed up with another five points finishes, including the first top 10 finish of his World Cup career in a sprint at Hochfilzen
Hochfilzen
Hochfilzen is a small village in Tyrol, Austria, in the Kitzbühel district. It is located at , in the Pillersee valley 5km west of Fieberbrunn. Population was 1,109 in 2001.It is a popular winter sports resort, especially for cross country skiing...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Burke got his season-best 6th place finish in a mass start at Pokljuka
Pokljuka
Pokljuka is a foresty plateau at the altitude of around 1300 metres, situated partly in the municipality of Bled and partly in municipality of Bohinj in northwestern Slovenia. It is part of Triglav national park...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
on January 21, 2007. At the World Championships
Biathlon World Championships 2007
The 41st Biathlon World Championships were held in 2007 for the fourth time in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy from February 2 to February 11.-Opening ceremony:* Date / Time: Fri February 3, 2007 / 20:00 CET...
in Antholz
Rasen-Antholz
Rasen-Antholz is a municipality in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 60 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Burke placed 7th in the individual competition. He eventually finished a very respectable 25th in the overall World Cup standings.
The 2007-08 season
2007-08 Biathlon World Cup
The 2007–08 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union...
was a disappointment as Burke suffered from health problems again and failed to improve on the previous year, finishing 29th in the overall World Cup. However, Burke finished that year on a high note as in the second-last race of the season, a pursuit at Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen is a neighborhood in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. In addition to being a residential area, the area has been a ski recreation area since the late 19th century, with its famous, eponymous, ski jump arena hosting competitions since 1892...
, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
he became the first ever US biathlete to have the best scratch time in a World Cup competition; though as he entered the pursuit from a meager 45th place, he still only finished 7th. In the last race, a mass start, he placed 8th despite four penalty loops. These were his best finishes that year.
2009-10 World Cup season
The first half of the 2009-10 Biathlon World Cup season marked Burke's breakthrough to the absolute elite of biathlon. In an individual 20 km competition at ÖstersundÖstersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the opener of the 2009-10 World Cup season, Burke became the second ever US biathlete to finish 2nd in a Biathlon World Cup competition. (Josh Thompson
Josh Thompson (biathlete)
Joshua Casey Thompson is a retired American biathlete and pilot. His silver at the 20 KM race of the Biathlon World Championships 1987 was the best place a US biathlete had achieved at that point. He never won an Olympic medal but finished sixteenth at the 1992 Winter Olympics which was a good...
had been the first.) Burke continued to produce solid results in the following competitions, consistently finishing in the top 20. This solidity - combined with the absence of Norwegian World Cup leader Emil Hegle Svendsen
Emil Hegle Svendsen
Emil Hegle Svendsen is a Norwegian biathlete. He skis with Strindheim IL, based in Trondheim. He is tall, and weighs 170 lb ....
from the third competition weekend
2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 3
The 2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 3 is the third event of the season and was held in Pokljuka, Slovenia from Thursday December 17 until Sunday December 20, 2009.-Schedule of events:The timeschedule of the event stands below-Men:-Women:...
at Pokljuka
Pokljuka
Pokljuka is a foresty plateau at the altitude of around 1300 metres, situated partly in the municipality of Bled and partly in municipality of Bohinj in northwestern Slovenia. It is part of Triglav national park...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and the disastrous 103rd place of Austria's Christoph Sumann
Christoph Sumann
Christoph "Sumi" Sumann is an Austrian biathlete.As many fellow biathletes Sumann picked up the sport switching from cross-country skiing he had been doing since childhood. By mid-1990s he entered junior ski team of Austria and he made it onto the senior level later on...
in the Pokljuka sprint - meant that on December 20, 2009 Burke, despite never winning a World Cup race, became the first ever US biathlete to capture the overall World Cup lead.
Burke initially held that position for just one competition, as he only finished 19th in a 10 km sprint at Oberhof
2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 4
The 2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 4 was the fourth event of the season and was held in Oberhof, Germany from Wednesday, January 6 until Sunday, January 10, 2010.-Schedule of events:The timeschedule of the event stands below-Men:-Women:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in adverse weather conditions. The winner, Evgeny Ustyugov
Evgeny Ustyugov
Evgeny Romanovich Ustyugov is a Russian biathlete. He won the gold medal in the men's 15km mass start event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, in turn captured the World Cup leader's yellow bib for the first time in his career. However, Burke recaptured the lead in the very next race (the first mass start of the season) by matching his career-best 2nd place finish.
Burke then entered a slump with a season-worst 31st place the next weekend
2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 5
The 2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 5 was the fifth event of the season and was held in Ruhpolding, Germany from Wednesday, January 13 until Sunday, January 17, 2010.-Schedule of events:The timeschedule of the event stands below-Men:-Women:...
in a sprint at Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding is a municipality of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps. Ruhpolding has a population of approximately 6,400....
. His bad form continued at Antholz
Rasen-Antholz
Rasen-Antholz is a municipality in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 60 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, as he finished 29th in the 20 km individual competition and 21st in the sprint.
2010 Winter Olympics
Burke opened the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
by finishing 47th in the 10 km sprint race, his worst placing of the season to date. The conditions were unequal as early starters had decent weather while the middle of the pack had to combat a storm of wet snow; Burke, who belonged to the latter group, described the race as "the most unfair competition I’ve ever raced in." (Teammate Jeremy Teela
Jeremy Teela
Jeremy Teela is an American biathlete and a sergeant in the United States Army. Teela is a three time Olympian, having competed in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Olympics.-Olympics:...
finished 9th in that race, the best Olympic result yet for a US biathlete.) The pursuit
Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's pursuit
The men's pursuit competition in biathlon at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia on February 16, 2010...
wasn't much better as Burke struggled with shooting, finishing 46th with five penalty loops. The individual 20 km
Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's individual
The men's individual competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia on February 18, 2010. Two silver medals were awarded for a second-place tie. No bronze medal was awarded.- Results :...
seemed to be going better as Burke was 19th after three shootings; however, he missed three shots in the last shooting and finished 45th.
Burke was guaranteed to improve on his career best Olympic finish of 35th place in the last individual event, the 15 km mass start
Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's mass start
The men's mass start competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia on February 21, 2010.- Results :- External links :* , from http://www.vancouver2010.com/; retrieved 2010-02-20....
, as only 30 biathletes qualified. This was in any case Burke's best competition, as despite four misses (all of them from the standing stages) good skiing salvaged him an 18th place, 1 minute 9 seconds behind gold medalist Ustyugov.
After the Olympics
Burke's problems continued in the last races of the season. He fell ill after the Olympics and failed to score another top 20 finish until the second-last individual race of the season, a 10 km sprint at Khanty-Mansiysk2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 9
The 2009–10 Biathlon World Cup – World Cup 9 was the ninth event of the season and was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from Thursday, March 25 until Sunday, March 28, 2010.-Schedule of events:The timeschedule of the event stands below-Men:-Women:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, where he finished 11th despite one miss at both shooting stages. Thanks to his strong early season, he still finished a career-best 14th in the overall World Cup.