David Verburg, who received a gold medal for being part of the United States' 4x400-meter relay team at the 2016 Olympics, signs autographs before being honored at EagleBank Arena during the Feb. 4 men's basketball game against La Salle. Photo by Bethany Camp.
David Verburg has nothing but fond memories of his time at George Mason University.
The diversity he experienced among students and faculty has helped him feel comfortable among different cultures as he travels the world as a professional track athlete, he said. The background he gained while earning a bachelor’s degree in health, fitness and recreational resources with a concentration in sports management has been an asset while putting together his nonprofit organization.
That is why the U.S. Olympic gold medalist said he was so looking forward to Feb. 4, when he was honored at EagleBank Arena during the men’s basketball game with La Salle.
“I’m definitely excited to be back,” said Verburg, 25, who lives in Gainesville, Fla., and hasn’t been on campus since his 2013 graduation. “To be able to come back home and bring the medal back, I can’t wait until Saturday.”
Verburg, an 11-time All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association male athlete of the year, is the first George Mason track and field standout to win Olympic gold. He is the second to medal, joining Greg Haughton, a three-time bronze medalist for Jamaica.
Verburg’s gold medal came at the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the 4x400-meter relay team. Verburg ran the anchor leg in a heat that advanced the team to the final, but he missed the championship race because of plantar fasciitis in both feet and a torn tendon in his right foot, injuries that took two and a half months to heal.
“It was hard to watch,” Verburg said of the final. “But if I tried to run and couldn’t finish, I would ruin the chances not only for myself and my teammates, but now my country is not winning another medal. In a relay, you can’t be selfish.”
Healthy now, Verburg is training for the 2017 U.S. outdoor championships in June in Sacramento, Calif. The meet is a qualifier for August’s world championship in London.
Andrew Gerard, director of track and field at Mason, said Verburg’s accomplishments still resonate at at the university.
“Certainly, when we watch the Olympics or the world championship, and you see someone who has run at the same place you’re running, it opens the door to where the ceiling is for our program,” Gerard said.
Said Verburg: “Mason gives you a great springboard to make your athletic career what you want it to be.”
Professional track and field is a huge deal in Europe, Asia and Africa, Verburg said. Athletes are treated like rock stars with security details and adoring fans. He said his relative anonymity in the United States “keeps you humble,” but also allows him to train without distractions. He races 10 to 12 times during a typical season.
As for life after track, Verburg said he is exploring business opportunities and is creating a nonprofit organization in Gainesville that will offer after-school athletic and academic programs.
“I’ve been really blessed in my life in so many ways,” Verburg said. “It’s a way to help somebody achieve what I have. It’s a way to give back.”
Honoring David Verburg
- Verburg will sign autographs from 6-7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, on the south concourse at EagleBank Arena before the men’s basketball game with La Salle.
- Special-edition trading cards will be provided to fans for Verburg to sign.
- Men’s basketball season ticket holders, mini-plan holders and students attending the game will receive a green and gold medal David Verburg bobblehead, while supplies last.
- Verburg will be welcomed on court with his gold medal during a timeout, when Athletic Director Brad Edwards will present him with a personalized basketball.