About Thomas Burke
Lived 1875 – 1929 (aged 54). Thomas Burke was an American sprinter, screenwriter, athletics competitor and lawyer.
Biography Burke was born in Massachusetts in 1875. He competed for the Suffolk Athletic Club in South Boston and the Boston Athletic Association (BAA).
Burke, a student at Boston University School of Law, was a reputed runner in the 400 meters and 440 yards, having won the AAU title (440 yards) in 1895. He had no such reputation for the first event he entered in the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens, 1896. With many top sprinters absent, Burke surprisingly won the 100 meters. He was also noted for his "crouch start", which was uncommon at that time but in standard use now. His time in the final was 12.0 seconds. In the preliminary heat, he had an even better time – 11.8 seconds.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Thomas Burke's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Burke?
American sprinter
When was Thomas Burke born?
Thomas Burke was born on 15 January 1875 in Boston.
When did Thomas Burke die?
Thomas Burke died on 14 February 1929 in Boston.
What was Thomas Burke's occupation?
Thomas Burke was a sprinter, screenwriter, athletics competitor and lawyer.
What nationality was Thomas Burke?
Thomas Burke was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Burke (sprinter)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Burke. https://biography.guide/thomas-burke-sprinter/
MLA: "Thomas Burke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-burke-sprinter/.
Chicago: "Thomas Burke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-burke-sprinter/.
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