[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E511]]
                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN BURRITT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to John Burritt of Redlands Mesa, Colorado for his 
remarkable achievements as an American pioneer in the biathlon and his 
work with the youth in his community. His 14th place finish in the 20-
kilometer biathlon at the 1960 Winter Olympics was the highest American 
finish to that date in the typically European dominated sport, and has 
since been matched only twice. It is John's commitment to excellence 
which enabled him to compete in his sport at the international level, 
and to help shape the history of American athletics.
  John came to the sport of biathlon, a sport that combines cross-
country skiing and shooting over often rugged, grueling terrain, 
through a somewhat unorthodox path. Although he grew up enjoying cross-
country skiing and hunting on his family's Redlands Mesa farm, he did 
not come to the biathlon until his days at Western State College in 
Gunnison, Colorado. John began practicing with the cross-country skiing 
team to improve his conditioning, and in 1956, at the invitation of a 
US Army colonel, he competed in the first biathlon race ever staged in 
the United States at Camp Hale.
  John continued his training after college while he served his country 
in the U.S. Army, which allowed him to compete at the international 
level, specifically on the US team at the 1959 World Championships in 
Courmayem, Italy. After finishing his military career, John qualified 
for a place on the 1960 Olympic team, where he finished 14th in the 20 
kilometer biathlon at Squaw Valley. Since his retirement from 
competition in 1964, John has continued to stay active in cross-country 
skiing, spending this past winter teaching the sport to local children.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the achievements of John 
Burritt in front of this body of Congress and this nation, and to thank 
him for his contributions to the great tradition of athletics in 
Colorado and the United States. His efforts to instill the love of 
cross-country skiing in the youth of his community are commendable, and 
I sincerely thank him for his contributions to the sport. I wish him 
the best in his future endeavors.

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