Doctors realize different kind of Olympic dream in Paris

Many young athletes daydream of one day competing in the Olympics, and this was certainly true for Brian Krabak and Monique Burton. Although they never realized those competitive dreams, the two will join Team USA in another way that’s almost as satisfying: as team physicians at the 2024 Summer Games.

Krabak is one of two physicians caring for the swim team, and Burton is one of two assigned to track and field. They are teammates, as well, at UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital, where they often tend to sports-related injuries. 

The spotlight is as strong as ever among competitors in swimming and track and field. These are among the most popular and visible international sports, with competitions often decided by hundredths of a second.

Both clinicians have worked years to achieve these opportunities. Each has worked volunteer assignments across the sports spectrum and gotten to know contemporary athletes as they’ve risen through the ranks. 

“It's been an amazing journey,” Krabak said. “Being part of the team feels like being part of a family. I truly think of it as a family.”

Here are their backgrounds:

Brian Krabak

Krabak is a clinical professor of rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics and sports medicine at UW Medicine’s Sports Medicine Center. He grew up in a household where his father couldn’t swim. But his parents made sure Brian learned, and he has spent much of his life in and around water.

“I'd like to tell you that I then excelled and became this amazing swimmer, but I didn't,” Krabak said. “I took a side turn sampling various sports including soccer, diving and ultra endurance events before turning to swimming. But becoming an elite swimmer wasn’t meant to be.”

An acquaintance suggested he volunteer to help USA Swimming. Krabak dove right in. He has traveled internationally with the U.S. national team since 2009. Over time he built a rapport with team members.

"It’s an incredible experience and honor to be part of this elite team,” he said. "It's the joy of sports medicine."

This will be his fourth Olympic Games and first as a swim team physician. He previously served in similar roles for USA Swimming at the 2015 and 2019 World University Games and the 2017, 2022 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships. He was also a team physician for the Baltimore Orioles.

“It's been a long road to reach this point of representing Team USA, specifically with USA Swimming,” Krabak said. “I look forward to hearing the National Anthem and witnessing athletes achieve their goals. It fills me with pride to have been part of their journey and success."

Monique Burton

Paris will be the third Olympics for Burton, a clinical professor and pediatric sports medicine physician. She is based at the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and leads the sports medicine program at Seattle Children’s. 

She began her journey as a competitive gymnast at Seattle’s Garfield High and the University of Pennsylvania before turning to medicine. She volunteered with USA Track and Field shortly after completing her studies and has been an integral part of the team for 20 years. She chairs the USA Track and Field Sports Medicine and Science Committee.

The team physician’s main role is to prevent illness and injury, she said. At this point, though, she’s so ingrained with the team that she serves whatever role is needed in the moment. This was especially true during the 2021 Tokyo Games that were delayed and severely impacted by COVID-19. 

“We were in the (Olympic) village and we were able to have that experience, but we had masks on, we had daily testing, we had all the precautions necessary for COVID,” she said. “I think it's really exciting to think about being in Paris and having the more classic Olympic experience.”

That’s a unique atmosphere only a very small number of people get to experience, she said. While the teams are hyper-focused on competition during the day, they all retire to the same place afterward. 

“You're in the village walking past other countries, you're eating next to somebody from another country and people are interacting,” Burton said. “And even though it's a competition, people are still united under the sport. There really, truly is an Olympic spirit.”

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