Brendan Burkett

Brendan Burkett is a Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Record holder, Commonwealth Games and Australian medallist, he had the honour of captaining the entire Australian team at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, and led the Australian Team into the Opening Ceremony by carrying the flag at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. The Sydney 2000 Paralympics were Brendan Burkett's fourth games as an athlete, and he added another Silver Paralympic medal to his current collection of Gold and Silver in Atlanta 1996, Bronze from Barcelona in 1992, and Silver in Seoul in 1988.
Outside of the pool Brendan Burkett has been an elected board member of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) since 1992, and has also been on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for a 6 year term.
Brendan Burkett has combined his love sport and interest in learning in a unique way. This is best exemplified in his achievements which integrate success on the international sporting arena as well as the completion of a degree and masters in engineering, followed with a Ph.D. in Sport Science (Biomechanics). His work experience includes 12 months as an engineer on the oil rigs in the North Sea, in particular the first person with a disability to apply, pass the off shore medical, and then work on the oil rigs. In 2000 he was awarded the Institution of Engineers Australia, Professional Engineer of the Year Award.
Brendan Burkett has a range of experience in public speaking including: after dinner speaker, keynote speaker, conference presentations, motivational and inspirational speaker, and invitions to corporate functions. He has completed the Rogen Presentation Mastery course and when combined with his entertaining life experience ensures a suitable tailor-made presentation.
Brendan's achievements in life speak for themselves. Despite losing his leg in a hit and run accident in 1985 Brendan's strength of character has turned tragedy into triumph. On the sporting field Brendan is the Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Record holder, Commonwealth Games and Australian multiple medallist. He is a fixture for leading and motivating the Australian Paralympic Team – demonstrated by his appointments as Australian team captain for the Atlanta team in 1996, and as the Opening Ceremony Flag bearer in Sydney 2000 – Australia's most successful sporting team.
The Sydney 2000 Paralympics were Brendan Burkett's fourth games as an athlete, and he added another Silver Paralympic medal to his current collection of Gold and Silver from Atlanta in 1996, Bronze from Barcelona in 1992, and a Silver from Seoul in 1988. The significance of his sporting achievements have been recognised at the highest level as Brendan is the recipient of the following awards; 1988 Australia Day Sporting Award; 1997 Order of Australia Medal (OAM); 1998 Ambassador for the Sydney Paralympic Games; 2000 Olympic torch relay member; 2000 Paralympic torch relay member; and 2000 Australian Sports Medal recipient.