![\"Josh](\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/JoshBurton3-Copy.jpg\")
<\/a>It was only four years ago, at age 10, when he first learned to speed skate.<\/p>\nAccording to him, he took up the sport as an alternative to playing hockey because he \u201cdidn\u2019t like chasing the puck around\u201d but enjoyed \u201cgoing fast on the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n
But for Burton, who has autism, winning gold was the triumphant peak of a particularly challenging year.<\/p>\n
In May 2017, at the end of his seventh-grade year, Burton was in a serious bicycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The crash fractured his skull and caused several brain bleeds, which then led to Burton suffering through seizures. As a result, Burton was not able to skate all summer.<\/p>\n
However, after being medically cleared, Burton returned to the ice in September in time to compete in the Virginia Fall State Special Olympics fall speed skating competition held in Virginia Beach. Here, too, he captured speed skating gold medals in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.<\/p>\n
Then, just as he was getting ready for the Special Olympics winter season of competition he was sidelined by an emergency appendectomy in November.<\/p>\n
Through it all, he never lost his spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving up would just be an excuse and you would regret it immediately,\u201d he said. \u201cYes, I had a fractured skull, I had seizures and I had appendicitis but I still kept going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His advice to others today is \u201ctry not to give up.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mother, Eve Poteet, credits his school for helping him during his recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he has talent, but even more important, he has people that believe in him,\u201d she added. \u201cHis teachers have helped him keep his grades up because he knows he has to be on honor roll in order to continue to miss a couple days here and there for competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to competitions, Burton also joined hundreds of people in the annual Virginia Beach Polar Plunge, which benefits Special Olympics Virginia and was held in early February.<\/p>\n
Ironically, as the Winter Olympics got underway, Josh didn\u2019t have plans to watch \u2013 although he did tune in and was excited to see fellow speed skaters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really watch sports,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Instead, he would rather be out experiencing sports, mom explains.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no wonder that in addition to being Virginia\u2019s fastest Special Olympics speed skater, Burton also rollerblades and he skis on black diamonds, which are the most difficult slopes. He also golfs and is a certified advanced open water diver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough he may never dive again due to his accident, he never loses hope,\u201d his mom states.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what makes this 14-year-old gold medalist a true champion.<\/p>\n
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