Christfried Burmeister
This Estonian skater carved his name into Olympic history as his nation's first-ever Winter Games competitor.
1898–1965 (age 67)·Estonian speed skater·Birthday: May 26·The Lost Generation
Biography
Christfried Burmeister emerged from the newly independent Estonia of the 1920s, a nation eager to assert its identity on the world stage. Born in 1898, he was a versatile athlete, excelling in both speed skating and the team sport of bandy. His moment of singular significance came in 1928, when he traveled to St. Moritz for the second Winter Olympics. By simply competing, Burmeister became Estonia's trailblazer, the first athlete to carry the nation's flag at a Winter Games. He raced in the 500m, 1500m, and 5000m events, facing the world's best. While he did not medal, his participation was a point of immense national pride, setting a precedent for future Estonian winter athletes. He continued his sporting involvement until his death in 1965, remembered as the man who broke the ice for his country.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Christfried was born in 1898, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christfried Was Born
The biggest hits of 1898
Christfried's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1898Born
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1903Started school
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Became a teenager
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1914Could drive
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could vote
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Turned 21
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1928Turned 30
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1938Turned 40
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1948Turned 50
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 60
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1965Died at 67
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Competed in three speed skating events at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz.
- Recognized as the first Estonian athlete ever to participate in the Winter Olympic Games.
- Was also an accomplished bandy player, a popular sport in the Baltic region.
Did You Know?
He was 29 years old during his Olympic debut in 1928.
His Olympic participation came just a decade after Estonia declared independence in 1918.
The 1928 Games were only the second ever Winter Olympics held.
“My skates carried the flag of Estonia to its first Winter Games.”
