Amy Burk

Amy Burk wears number seven and plays the position of right wing for the Canadian women’s goalball team. The team secured a spot for the 2020 Paralympic Games when China defeated South Korea in the semifinals at the Asia-Pacific Championships in Chiba, Japan in December 2019. 

Burk has been a member of the team for many years. She has attended the 2016, 2012 and 2008 Paralympic Games, 2011, 2015 and 2019 IBSA World Championships, 2006 and 2010 IBSA Goalball World Championships and Games and 2015 and 2019 Parapan Am Games. She has been nominated for MVP at several international championships.

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 initial viewing of 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.  

Burk has been nominated several times for the PEI “Female Athlete of the Year Award,” most recently for the 2019 year.

In 2008, Burk moved to Ottawa and began playing goalball for Team Ontario, whom she still plays with today. In 2013, Burk graduated from Algonquin College with a developmental services worker diploma. Currently, she remains in Ottawa living with her husband and two children.