Mike Burton, the first American swimmer to win the Olympic 1,500-meter freestyle at consecutive Games, has died. He was 79.
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His son, Eric Burton, announced the death Friday on Facebook, writing that his father died after a long fight with Alzheimer's and dementia.
"My dad was by far the toughest man to have ever lived," Eric Burton wrote. "He always inspired me to greatness."
Olympedia lists Burton's date of death as Sept. 18, 2026. He was born Michael Jay Burton on July 3, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Burton won three Olympic gold medals. In Mexico City in 1968, he took the 400 free despite being ill and then won the 1,500 by 18 seconds over teammate John Kinsella, a margin that has never been matched in an Olympic final. Four years later in Munich, he defended the 1,500 title in a world-record 15:52.58 and carried the U.S. flag at the closing ceremony.
He also swam prelims on the 4x200 free relay that won gold in 1972, before heat swimmers routinely received medals.
The road to those races was not simple. At 12, Burton was hit by a truck while riding his bike and suffered a dislocated hip and torn ligaments. Doctors told him swimming was the only sport he could still pursue. He later needed more knee surgery between the two Olympics.
Burton trained at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento under Sherm Chavoor, then swam at UCLA, where he won five NCAA individual titles. He set seven world records and 16 American records, won 10 AAU titles and became the first man to break 16 minutes in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977.
Bobby Finke later matched the consecutive 1,500 golds at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
After competing, Burton coached in Iowa, Washington and Montana. USA Swimming and the International Swimming Hall of Fame confirmed his death.
He is survived by his family, including his son Eric.
