Michal Burian

Michal Burian (born 27 June 1992)^[1] is a Czech-born Australian Paralympic javelin thrower. He won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.^[2] Two years later, he secured another silver medal at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. In both competitions, his achievements were clinched during the final round with a clutch throw, proving Burian's ability to perform under pressure.

Michal Burian

Personal information
Nationality	Czech | Australian
Born	(1992-06-27) 27 June 1992 (age 33)
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
Sport
Country	Australia
Sport	Para-athletics
Position	javelin thrower
Disability	Club foot
Disability class	F44
Event	Javelin throw
League	Athletics Australia
Club	Sandringham Athletics Club
Coached by	Dale Stevenson
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	Tokyo 2020
World finals	Paris 2023
National finals	Australian championship 2022,2021,2020,2019
Personal best	66.29m
Medal record Men's para-athletics Representing  Australia Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo Javelin throw F64 2024 Paris Javelin throw F64 World Championships 2023 Paris Javelin throw F64

Personal

Burian was born with club foot^[3] and grew up in the Czech Republic. He arrived in Australia in 2012, on a six-month visa and speaking little English.^[3] He soon decided to settle in Australia permanently, and has since become an Australian citizen.^[4] He has completed a Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management.^[3] As of 2021^[update], he lives in Melbourne and works as a project coordinator.^[3]

Athletics

Burian with silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

As a teen in the Czech Republic, Burian watched Olympic javelin champion and world record holder Jan Železný throwing at his local club.^[3] By the age of 18, he was a member of the (able-bodied) Czech junior national team.^[3] He was then told he should not continue in sport due to his impairment.^[3]

Following his arrival in Australia, Burian joined Sandringham Athletics Club. He was classified as an F44 para-athlete in 2020. As of 1 July 2021^[update], Burian holds the Australian record for Men’s javelin F44, with a distance of 61.24m.^[5]

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's Javelin F64 with a personal best throw of 66.29m and holds the new world record in the F44 category.^[6]

Burian won the silver medal at the Men's Javelin F64 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris with a throw of 65.21m in sixth round.^[7]

He competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Paris,France - his second Games where he won the bronze medal in Men's Javelin F64.^[8]

In 2024, he was awarded a Victorian Institute of Sport Coach Award.