12 Facts About Dick Buerkle

Richard Thomas Buerkle was an American Olympic athlete and a world record holder for the men's indoor mile.

Dick Buerkle is known as one of the most successful walk-ons in the history of American collegiate running, due to his athletic successes while at Villanova.

Dick Buerkle graduated from Aquinas Institute high school in 1965 with personal best times of 4:28 for the mile and 10:01 for two miles.

Dick Buerkle began running competitively only in his senior year of high school.

Dick Buerkle graduated from Villanova in 1970 with a degree in Spanish studies.

Dick Buerkle allegedly ate nine oreos and two peanut butter jelly sandwiches only a few hours before the race.

Dick Buerkle then won the men's Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in 3:58.4, beating Wilson Waigwa and Bayi for a second consecutive race on Madison Square Garden's track.

Dick Buerkle was later most thankful to Michael Jordan for shaving his head and ushering the style into the mainstream.

Dick Buerkle eventually grew tired of the winter weather in his native Rochester, New York, and relocated his family to Atlanta, Georgia, soon thereafter.

Dick Buerkle continued to live and work in the Atlanta area after retiring from world-class competition in 1981.

Dick Buerkle tried careers in sales and teaching in tandem with his running career.

Dick Buerkle died on June 22,2020, from multiple system atrophy.