Mike Burke (strongman)

Mike Burke (born June 14, 1974) is an American strongman and a grip strength specialist from Aurora, Colorado. Before becoming a strength athlete, he worked as a construction worker.

Career
Burke won the 2012 All-American Strongman Challenge in January 2012 which qualified him for the 2012 Arnold Strongman Classic where he won fifth place. He also placed third at 2012 Giants Live Melbourne which qualified Burke for the 2012 World's Strongest Man, though he couldn't reach the finals. A few days later, he competed in the 2012 America's Strongest Man contest and won first place.

Burke competed in the 2013 World's Strongest Man in Sanya, China and qualified for the finals where he emerged fifth place. In September, he won second place at the 2013 Strongman Champions League Russia. In the same year, Burke delivered arguably the single most dominating performance ever seen in a grip competition by winning the 2013 'Visegrip Viking', defeating a stacked field which included Mark Felix and Odd Haugen. He officially closed the Captains of Crush No. 3.5 (146 kg / 322.5 lb, RGC 175) gripper, broke Captains of Crush silver bullet hold world record with a performance of 53.97 seconds, broke the most reps with 78 kg Thomas Inch Dumbbell in two-minutes world record with 37 reps, and twice broke the double overhand Apollon's Axle deadlift world record with 230 kg and 235 kg.

Burke competed in 2014 World's Strongest Man in Los Angeles, California, qualified for the finals and won fourth place which is his best performance in World's Strongest Man. He also broke two World Records in the 12.5 kg (28 lb) Keg toss event in 2014 Strongman Champions League China's Guinness World Records dual with Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson by clearing 7.50 m and 7.70 m. In his last performance at the 2015 World's Strongest Man in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Burke secured fifth place.