Mike Burke (strongman)

Last updated
Mike Burke
Born
Mike Burke

(1974-06-14) 14 June 1974 (age 50)
Flag of the United States.svg Aurora, Colorado
Other namesBig Mike
Occupation Strongman
Height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Title America's Strongest Man
SpouseMaree Burke
ChildrenMichael
Isabella
Competition record
Strongman
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World's Strongest Man
Qualified 2012 World's Strongest Man
5th 2013 World's Strongest Man
4th 2014 World's Strongest Man
5th 2015 World's Strongest Man
Arnold Strongman Classic
5th2012 Arnold Strongman Classic
5th2013 Arnold Strongman Classic
3rd2014 Arnold Strongman Classic
4th2015 Arnold Strongman Classic
Strongman Champions League
2nd 2013 Russia
Giants Live
3rd2012 Australia
1st2013 Hungary
America's Strongest Man
3rd2011
1st2012
All-American Strongman Challenge
9th2008
1st2012
Vice-Grip Viking Challenge
2nd2012
1st2013
Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships
3rd2011
Olympia Strongman Challenge
1st2011

Mike Burke (born June 14, 1974) is an American strongman and a grip strength specialist from Aurora, Colorado. [1] Before becoming a strength athlete, he worked as a construction worker. [2]

Contents

Career

Burke won the 2012 All-American Strongman Challenge in January 2012 [3] which qualified him for the 2012 Arnold Strongman Classic where he won fifth place. He also placed third at 2012 Giants Live Melbourne [4] which qualified Burke for the 2012 World's Strongest Man, though he couldn't reach the finals. A few days later, he competed in the 2012 America's Strongest Man contest and won first place. [5]

Burke competed in the 2013 World's Strongest Man in Sanya, China and qualified for the finals where he emerged fifth place. In September, he won second place at the 2013 Strongman Champions League Russia. [6] In the same year, Burke delivered arguably the single most dominating performance ever seen in a grip competition by winning the 2013 'Visegrip Viking', defeating a stacked field which included Odd Haugen, Mark Felix and Alexey Tyukalov. [7] He officially closed the Captains of Crush No. 3.5 (146 kg / 322.5 lb, RGC 175) gripper, [8] broke Captains of Crush silver bullet hold world record with a performance of 53.97 seconds, broke the most reps with 78 kg (172 lb) Thomas Inch Dumbbell in two-minutes world record with 37 reps, and twice broke the double overhand Apollon's Axle deadlift world record with 230 kg (507 lb) and 235 kg (518 lb). [7]

Burke competed in 2014 World's Strongest Man in Los Angeles, California, qualified for the finals and won fourth place [9] which is his best performance in World's Strongest Man. He also broke two World Records in the 12.5 kg (28 lb) Keg toss event in 2014 Strongman Champions League China's Guinness World Records dual with Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson by clearing 7.50 metres (24 ft 7 in) and 7.70 metres (25 ft 3 in). [10] In his last performance at the 2015 World's Strongest Man in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Burke secured fifth place.

During 2016 Rogue Record Breakers, Burke set a world record in the Thomas Inch Dumbbell farmers walk, carrying two dumbbells each weighing 78 kg (172 lb) in each hand and walking them for 37.52 metres (123 ft 1 in).

Personal records

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References

  1. ↑ "Mike Burke". Rogue Fitness . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "STRONGMAN MIKE BURKE HAS CRAZY GRIP STRENGTH". www.muscleandfitness.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (28 January 2012). "Strongman Mike Burke Wins at the LA FitExpo". IronMind . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (19 March 2012). "Mike Jenkins Wins Giants Live–FitX Melbourne 2012". IronMind . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (30 September 2012). "Mike Burke Wins America's Strongest Man®". IronMind . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  6. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (16 September 2013). "Zydrunas Savickas Wins SCL Russia, Mike Burke is Second". IronMind . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 Randall J. Strossen (21 January 2013). "Mike Burke Crushes All Comers in LA FitExpo Grip Contest". www.ironmind.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Captains of Crush® No. 3.5 Gripper Certification:". Ironmind.com. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Mike Burke". World's Strongest Man. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Randall J. Strossen & Ilkka Kinnunen (5 January 2014). "Hafthor Opens 2014 With Guinness World Record". www.strongmancl.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
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