- Paul Burgess (athlete)
Paul Burgess (born
14 August 1979 inPerth, Western Australia ) is anAustralian pole vaulter who become only the thirteenthpole vaulter in the world to reach 6 metres.Burgess was originally a gymnast, winning a silver medal at the
Australian National Gymnastics Championships as a thirteen year old. Having grown too tall to continue with gymnastics, testing at theWestern Australian Institute of Sport suggested that Burgess was suited to pole vault. By 1996, Burgess had won the gold medal at the 1996 SydneyWorld Junior Championships , clearing a then-personal best of 5.35 metres. Later that year Burgess set the under 18 Australian record of 5.51 metres. In 1998, Burgess finished second at the1998 Commonwealth Games , third at theWorld Junior Championships and seventh at the World Cup.Burgess finished second at the
East Asian Games in 2001, clearing 5.50 metres. In 2002, Burgess finished fifth at the World Cup, clearing 5.20 metres.At his second Olympics, in 2004, Burgess finished eleventh at 5.55 metres, although he had cleared 5.70 metres in the qualifying rounds.
It was, however, in 2005 that Burgess's form improved dramatically, clearing 5.91 metres, 5.95 metres and then 6.00 metres in domestic competition. These were, at the time, the three highest vaults on Australian soil.
Burgess recently ended the 2006 European season as the number two ranked pole vaulter (behind training partner
Steven Hooker ), having won theWorld Athletics Final on 10 September 2006. Burgess won US$30,000 in the process.He was named
Western Australian Sports Star of the Year in January 2006. [cite web |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=18284|title=Burgess best in the West|work=The West Australian|date=10th January 2007|accessdate=2007-03-11]References
Paul Burgess also a motivated sailor that is trying hard to lose weight. He is known as the "Big Daddy Bear" at his work space.Paul Burgess is 23 and a struggling father of 7 kids and is having a hard to feed them!!! He needs help!!!
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.