Tim Burke attends a press conference at the Main Press Centre ahead of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on Feb. 7, 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea.
After a biathlon career that lasted more than 20 years, it’s perhaps no wonder that Tim Burke is returning to the sport he loves in retirement, this time in a leadership role with U.S. Biathlon.
The 36-year-old Burke was announced Wednesday as U.S. Biathlon’s athlete development manager, a role in which he will help improve training and performance for developing American biathletes of all ages. This includes working with ski clubs to increase competition and provide better opportunities for young athletes, as well as improve coaching.
“I'm very excited to have the opportunity to pass on the knowledge that I gained during my biathlon career," Burke said in the release. "As an athlete, you are often quite focused on your own training and racing schedule. Now I have the perfect chance to 'pay it forward.' I am motivated to get more athletes involved with biathlon and to give those athletes everything necessary to reach their full potential."
The knowledge Burke alluded to is extensive, as he competed in biathlon beginning in 1997, competing in 11 world championships. Burke’s career highlight came at worlds when he won a silver medal in the 20-kilometer individual in Nove Mestro, Czech Republic, in 2013. He also scored six world cup podiums in his career. Burke competed in four consecutive Olympic Winter Games beginning with Torino in 2006.
In March, Burke, from Lake Placid, New York, retired alongside U.S. teammate Lowell Bailey following their final world cup of the season in Oslo.
Todd Kortemeier is a sportswriter, editor and children’s book author from Minneapolis. He is a contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
