Daniel Burke

Daniel Burke (born 2 May 1974 in Sydney) is an Australian rower who won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He's one of only two Australian oarsmen to have twice won the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.

Club and state rowing Burke was raised in Shoal Bay on the central coast of New South Wales. He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill where he took up rowing. He rowed in that school's First VIII in both of his senior years 1991 and 1992. His senior club rowing was done from the Sydney Rowing Club and the Sydney University Boat Club.

Burke first made state selection for New South Wales in the 1996 senior men's eight to contest the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. He stroked that crew to a second place. He raced in four further King's Cup eights for New South Wales in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. His King's Cup career was during a period of Victorian dominance.

International representative rowing Burke's Australian representative debut came in 1995 when he was selected to row a coxed pair with Shane McLaughlin at the 1995 World Rowing Championships in Tampere. With Teesan Koo in the bow, they placed fourth. He held his seat in the Australian eight in 1998 and raced at the 1998 World Rowing Championships in Cologne to a sixth-place finish. At Sydney 2000 the Australian eight won their heat in a pace that blew away the eventual gold medallists Great Britain. However, in the final they started slowly and their late sprint home left them 0.8 seconds behind the Brits at the line and taking the silver Olympic medal in a thrilling finish.

Burke's record in winning two Grand Challenge Cups at the Henley Royal Regatta is a rare feat for British rowers, but never before achieved by an Australian oarsman.

Yachting After the 2000 Olympic Games Burke turned his hand to Yacht racing. In 2003 he competed in the Rolex IMS maxi world championships in Capri Italy. He was a crew member aboard 'Bumblebee 5' finishing 5th.

Personal and family He attended the University of Sydney where he obtained a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Commerce in International Business and Marketing. In 2002 Burke received a Sydney University Blue for the sport of rowing. His brother Michael - a state and national amateur heavy weight boxing representative - also received a Blue in the same year for the sport of boxing.

His brother in-law Matthew Gray is a three time Olympic archer for Australia. His sister Kathleen is also an Australian rower.