Chuck Burke

Chuck Burke grew up skating, competing in figure skating, speed skating, and barrel jumping, but he settled on speed skating as his best discipline. He was at his best in long distance events, and competed in the 5 and 10K at both the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics. Although his day job was as a union pipefitter, Burke then became a skating coach, spending 35 years in that career, and developing multiple US and North American champions, and over 15 members of US International teams. The Chuck Burke Award is given annually to the male skater posting the fastest time in the 1,000 at the Northbrook Open Short-Track Championships. He was inducted into the US Speed Skating Hall of Fame in 1997.

Personal Bests: 500 – 45.1 (1956); 1500 – 2:23.5 (1956); 5000 – 8:43.1 (1956); 10000 – 18:18.1 (1956).