Amy Burk Amy Burk

In November 2023, team captain Amy Burk and her teammates won the gold medal in women’s goalball at the Parapan American Games in Santiago to earn a berth for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

She has attended the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games, the 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 IBSA World Championships, and the 2011, 2015,  2019, 2023 Parapan Am Games.

Born with Albinism and a visual impairment, Burke grew up with a love for competition. She played basketball in elementary school and was introduced to goalball at age 12 by her itinerant teacher, who sat on the board of directors for recreational sports for PEI. Burk’s teacher gave the PEI goalball coach her name, who then reached out to her, paying her a visit at her school and inviting her to come try the sport of goalball with the provincial team.

Upon her first introduction to goalball, Burk was jaw dropped by the fact that grown women were voluntarily flinging themselves in front of and getting hit by a ball. Still, she gave it a try, but in the end decided it wasn’t for her.

In 2004, one year later, Burk decided to call the PEI goalball coach and ask if she could give the sport another try. He agreed, and this time she immediately fell in love with the goalball, joining the PEI provincial team.

In 2008, Burk moved to Ottawa and began playing goalball for Team Ontario.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Gold and Paralympic Games qualification at the 2023 Parapan American Games… 2020, 2016, 2012 and 2008 Paralympic Games… Bronze medal at the 2019, 2015 and 2011 Parapan Am Games… PEI’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2023…

PERSONAL

Member of CPC’s Athlete Council… Mother of two boys… Married to goalball teammate Whitney Bogart’s twin brother…Was an athlete representative with Canadian Blind Sports for six years… In 2013 graduated from Algonquin College with a developmental services worker diploma and in 2023 with a medical laboratory technician program diploma.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2023 Parapan American Games 1st

2023 World Championships 4th

2021 Paralympic Games 9th

2019 IBSA World Championship and Games – 5th

2019 Parapan Am Games – 3rd

2018 World Championships 4th

2016 Paralympic Games 6th

2015 World Championships 3rd

2012 Paralympic Games 5th

2011 Parapan American Games 3rd

2011 World Championships 1st

2008 Paralympic Games 5th

2006 World Championships 1st