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Max Burgin
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Max Burgin (born 20 May 2002) is a British middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres.[1] He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Key Information
Biography
[edit]In 2022 Burgin became the British 800 metres champion after winning the title at the 2022 British Athletics Championships in a time of 1:44.54.[2] He ran a new personal best of 1:43.52 in Turku, Finland on 14 June 2022 at the Paavo Nurmi Games, which was the fourth fastest British 800 time in history.[3] He also won the 800m at the 2018 European Athletics U18 Championships.
After winning the 800 metres silver medal at the 2024 British Athletics Championships,[4] Burgin was subsequently named in the Great Britain team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[5] He came 8th in the 800m final after achieving a new personal best of 1:43.50 in the semi-final.[6]
In May 2025 he lowered his personal best to 1:43.34 to finish second behind Tshepiso Masalela in the 800 metres race at the 2025 Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme de Rabat, finishing ahead of Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.[7][8] In August 2025 he won his second British outdoor title at the 2025 UK Athletics Championships.[9] He was a finalist at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2025 in the men's 800 metres, placing sixth overall in a new personal best time of 1:42.29. It was the first 800m race in history in which all eight competitors ran under 1:43.00.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ Max Burgin at World Athletics
- ^ Ingle, Sean (26 June 2022). "Max Burgin storms home to win 800m men's final at UK Championships". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ Calvert, Howard (16 June 2022). "Max Burgin records 4th fastest British 800m of all time". runnersworld.com. Runner's World. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "High drama for Paris contenders at thrilling Olympic trials". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Kerr & Johnson-Thompson head GB Olympics athletics squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Max Burgin vows to learn from Paris 2024 experience after debut Olympic final". North Wales Chronicle. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Burgin sets personal best at Diamond League Rabat". BBC Sport. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "MAX BURGIN EXCELS IN RABAT WITH 1:43.34 PB FOR 800M". Athletics Weekly. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Max Burgin powers to 1:43.92 win over 800m at UK Champs". Athletics Weekly. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Wanyonyi runs championship record to win world 800m title in Tokyo". World Athletics. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
External links
[edit]
Max Burgin
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and background
Family and upbringing
Max Burgin was born on 20 May 2002 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.[8] He spent his formative years in this industrial town in the Pennines, where the rugged landscape—characterized by steep inclines known locally as "monster hills"—shaped his initial exposure to physical training and endurance activities.[9] Burgin's family has a longstanding connection to athletics, particularly through Halifax Harriers, one of Britain's oldest running clubs. His father, Ian Burgin, serves as his primary coach and was himself a competitive middle-distance runner, reaching national-level competitions in the 1980s.[10][3] Ian's guidance has been instrumental in Max's development, building on a foundation of disciplined, family-oriented training.[11] Max's grandfather, Brian Burgin, played a key role as his early coach and former head coach of Halifax Harriers, instilling traditional British methods that prioritize hill repetitions, consistent mileage, and mental resilience over modern high-tech approaches.[9][12] This old-school philosophy, drawn from Brian's extensive experience in the sport, emphasized building a strong aerobic base through the challenging terrain around Halifax.[11] The family's athletic legacy sparked Burgin's early passion for running, with both Ian's personal achievements and Brian's coaching expertise providing a nurturing environment that transitioned him toward structured athletics under their direct supervision.[12][10]Education and early influences
Burgin attended The Crossley Heath School in Halifax, where he balanced rigorous academic demands with his early involvement in sports activities.[13] At A-level, he excelled in history, earning an A* grade that directly shaped his subsequent academic path.[14] This achievement underscored his strong aptitude for the subject and influenced his choice to pursue higher education in it, reflecting a personal interest that complemented his developing discipline in other pursuits. In autumn 2021, Burgin commenced a history degree at the University of Leeds, having deferred his enrollment for a gap year in 2020 to prioritize athletics training.[14] He took a temporary break from his studies in 2024 to focus on preparation for the Paris Olympics.[15] Burgin completed his degree in 2025, graduating with a 2:1.[7] These pauses highlight how Burgin has navigated the interplay between scholarly interests and professional athletic commitments, with familial support—particularly from his father, who serves as his coach—playing a key role in maintaining this balance.[16]Athletic career
Junior achievements
Max Burgin's junior career began to accelerate in 2018 at age 15, when he set a world age-best of 1:47.50 for 800m at the British Milers Club Grand Prix in Manchester on May 12, just eight days before his 16th birthday.[17] This performance, coached by his father Ian and grandfather Brian, marked him as a prodigious talent in middle-distance running.[18] Later that year, he claimed gold at the European U18 Championships in Győr, Hungary, winning the 800m final in a championship record and European age-16 best of 1:47.36 on July 8.[2] In 2019, as a 17-year-old, Burgin broke the British under-20 record with a time of 1:45.36 at the England Athletics U20 Championships in Bedford on June 23, a mark that also ranked him seventh on the world under-18 all-time list.[19] This dominant victory, where he led from the front through 400m in 52.02 seconds, secured his selection for the European U20 Championships later that summer.[20] Burgin's progression continued in 2020 amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as he lowered his personal best to 1:44.75 at the British Milers Club Gold Standard Race in Trafford on August 11, establishing a new European under-20 record and the fastest time by a British athlete under 20.[21] This solo effort against the clock highlighted his tactical maturity and speed endurance at age 18.[22] Turning 19 in 2021, Burgin further improved the European under-20 record to 1:44.14 on May 19 at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, a performance that also served as the world lead for the year and came on the eve of his birthday.[23] Running unchallenged after taking the lead early, he outpaced a strong field including Tony van Diepen and Jake Wightman, underscoring his status as one of the top young 800m prospects globally.[24]Senior breakthrough and challenges
Burgin's transition to senior competition began promisingly in 2022, when he claimed his first British senior 800m title at the UK Athletics Championships in Manchester, winning in a time of 1:44.54 despite challenging blustery conditions.[25] This victory, achieved by leading from the front and pulling away on the final lap, secured his qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.[25] Just weeks later, at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, he set a personal best of 1:43.52, the world lead at the time, and establish the fourth-fastest time in British history, showcasing his potential as a front-runner in elite fields.[26][27] However, Burgin's breakthrough was abruptly halted by injury during the World Championships, where he withdrew from his first-round heat due to a calf problem initially diagnosed as a strain but later revealed to be deep vein thrombosis (DVT).[28][29] The condition, unrelated to his training, forced him to return home for treatment and sidelined him for the remainder of the season, including the Commonwealth Games, marking a significant early challenge in his senior career.[29] The 2023 season proved even more restrictive, as ongoing injuries to his calf and Achilles tendon limited his training and racing opportunities, preventing substantial international progress.[30] These issues, which persisted from the previous winter, restricted him to a cautious schedule and curtailed any major breakthroughs abroad. By early 2024, Burgin showed signs of recovery, earning silver at the British Athletics Championships in Birmingham with a time of 1:44.54, finishing behind Ben Pattison in a competitive field that confirmed his Olympic qualification.[31] At the Paris Olympics, he advanced to the final via the semi-finals, setting a new personal best of 1:43.50 in the semi-final, demonstrating resilience amid his injury history.[32] In 2025, Burgin had a strong Diamond League season, winning in Rabat with 1:43.34, setting a PB of 1:42.36 for third at the London meeting in July, and finishing second overall in the series final in Zurich with 1:42.42.[33][34]Olympic and World Championship performances
Max Burgin's international championship debut came at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he competed in the men's 800 meters. In the semi-final on August 9, he clocked a personal best of 1:43.50 to finish third and advance to the final.[35] Two days later, in the final, Burgin placed eighth with a time of 1:43.84, as Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya claimed gold in 1:41.19.[36][37] Following a recovery from Achilles issues that had hampered his prior seasons, Burgin entered the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with renewed consistency.[3] In the heats on September 16, he ran 1:44.73 to qualify for the semi-finals.[38] Advancing further, he reached the final on September 20, where he set a new personal best of 1:42.29 to finish sixth, behind gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi who won in 1:41.86.[4][7]Records and personal bests
National records
Max Burgin holds the British under-23 national record in the 800 metres with a time of 1:43.50, achieved during the semi-final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on August 9, 2024. This performance not only qualified him for the Olympic final but also surpassed the previous U23 mark, underscoring his rapid development in the event.[39][32] At the senior level, Burgin ran 1:43.52 at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 14, 2022, which was the fourth-fastest 800m time in British history at the time. His personal best improved to 1:42.29 on September 20, 2025, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, placing him third on the British all-time list behind Sebastian Coe (1:41.73, 1981) and Ben Pattison (1:42.27, 2024), ahead of Steve Cram (1:42.88, 1985) and Peter Elliott (1:42.97, 1990).[27][40][5][4][7]| Record Level | Event | Time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U23 National Record | 800m | 1:43.50 | August 9, 2024 | Paris, France | Set in Olympic semi-final; previous record held since 2012.[39] |
| Senior All-Time (3rd) | 800m | 1:42.29 | September 20, 2025 | Tokyo, Japan | Current personal best; set in World Championships final.[4] |
Age-group bests and international marks
Max Burgin established himself as a prodigy in middle-distance running during his youth, setting multiple world and European age-group bests in the 800 metres that highlighted his early dominance. At age 15, he clocked 1:47.50 at the British Milers Club Grand Prix in Manchester on May 12, 2018, surpassing the previous world under-15 record by over two seconds and also setting a British under-17 best.[17][41] Just days before turning 16, this performance positioned him as the fastest 15-year-old in history for the event.[42] In July 2018, competing as a 16-year-old at the European Under-18 Championships in Győr, Hungary, Burgin won gold with a time of 1:47.36, establishing a new championship record and European under-18 best.[2][39] This mark improved upon his recent world under-15 best and further solidified his international standing among youth athletes.[43] Burgin's progression accelerated in 2019 at age 17, where he broke the British under-20 record with 1:45.36 at the England Athletics Under-20 and Under-23 Championships in Bedford on June 23, simultaneously setting a new European under-17 best.[44][20] This performance earned him automatic selection for the European Under-20 Championships and ranked him seventh globally among under-18 athletes that year.[45] Entering the under-20 category, Burgin continued his record-breaking run in 2020 with a 1:44.75 at the British Milers Club Gold Standard Race in Stretford on August 11, shattering the European under-20 record previously held by Yuriy Borzakovskiy since 2000.[21][22] He improved this mark the following year on May 19, 2021, at the Ostrava Golden Spike, running 1:44.14 to set a new European under-20 record and the world's fastest time that season.[46][24] These achievements underscored his transition toward senior-level competition, where he later achieved a personal best of 1:42.29.[47]| Age Group | Event | Time | Date | Location | Record Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under-15 | 800m | 1:47.50 | May 12, 2018 | Manchester, UK | World Best | Daily Mail |
| Under-18 | 800m | 1:47.36 | July 8, 2018 | Győr, Hungary | European Championship Record | British Athletics |
| Under-17 | 800m | 1:45.36 | June 23, 2019 | Bedford, UK | European Best | British Athletics |
| Under-20 | 800m | 1:44.75 | August 11, 2020 | Stretford, UK | European Record | Watch Athletics |
| Under-20 | 800m | 1:44.14 | May 19, 2021 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | European Record | Athletics Weekly |