# Thomas Burke

> American sprinter

**Wikidata**: [Q314081](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q314081)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Burke_(sprinter))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-burke

## Summary
Thomas Burke was an American sprinter who is notable for being the first Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters event at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, establishing himself as a pioneer in modern Olympic athletics.

## Biography
- Born: January 15, 1875 (specific birthplace not provided in the source material)
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Harvard University, Boston University, Boston University School of Law
- Known for: First Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters at the 1896 Summer Olympics
- Employer(s): Not explicitly stated as an employer in the source material, though affiliated with Boston University and Harvard University
- Field(s): Athletics (sprinting), later possibly law given his education at Boston University School of Law

## Contributions
The primary contribution of Thomas Burke was his athletic achievement as a sprinter. He won the gold medal in the 100 meters event at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, becoming the first Olympic gold medalist in this event. His performance helped establish the modern Olympic sprinting tradition and demonstrated the potential of American athletes in international competition.

## FAQs
**Where did Thomas Burke compete in his most famous event?**
Thomas Burke competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece, where he won the gold medal in the 100 meters sprint.

**What was Thomas Burke's profession after his athletic career?**
After his athletic career, Thomas Burke attended Boston University School of Law, suggesting he may have pursued a legal profession.

**Which university did Thomas Burke attend?**
Thomas Burke was educated at Harvard University and later attended Boston University, including its School of Law.

**What was Thomas Burke's height and weight?**
According to the source material, Thomas Burke had a height of 183.0 cm and a weight of 66.0 kg.

## Why They Matter
Thomas Burke's significance lies in being the first Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters event at the 1896 Summer Olympics. His victory established the modern Olympic sprinting tradition and demonstrated the potential of American athletes in international competition. Without his achievement, the early Olympic Games might not have featured the same level of sprinting competition, and the legacy of American sprinters at the Olympics might have developed differently.

## Notable For
- First Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters (1896)
- Inducted into the Hall of Fame (2014)
- Represented the United States in the first modern Olympic Games
- Trained at Harvard University and later attended Boston University School of Law

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Thomas Burke was born on January 15, 1875. He received his education at Harvard University and later attended Boston University, including its School of Law. His athletic career began while he was at Harvard University.

### Career as an Athlete
Burke's athletic career focused on sprinting events. He competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, where he achieved his most significant accomplishment. The Olympics were the first modern Olympic Games, and Burke became the first athlete to win the gold medal in the 100 meters event.

### Olympic Achievement
At the 1896 Olympics, Burke won the gold medal in the 100 meters with a time of 12.0 seconds. His victory was historic as it marked the beginning of Olympic sprinting competition and established the United States as a competitive force in athletics. The event was part of the first modern Olympic Games, which were held in Athens.

### Physical Attributes
The source material provides specific physical measurements for Thomas Burke. He stood at 183.0 cm tall and weighed 66.0 kg during his athletic career.

### Later Life and Legacy
After his athletic career, Burke continued his education at Boston University School of Law. His legacy as an athlete was recognized when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. The source material includes a photograph from 1896 showing Burke as an athlete.

### Affiliations
Thomas Burke had connections to several prestigious institutions. He was educated at Harvard University and later attended Boston University, including its School of Law. His athletic achievements were documented under the Wikidata identifier P373: Thomas Burke (athlete), with the identifier P535: 203815213.

### Recognition
Burke's Olympic achievement is commemorated in various databases and encyclopedias. His Wikipedia page has a sitelink count of 40, and his Wikidata page includes multiple identifiers including P1447: bu/tom-burke-1 and P5815: thomas-burke. The source material also references his image with the identifier P18: Thomas Burke 1896.jpg.

## References

1. USA Track & Field athlete database
2. Find a Grave
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013