title: Moss Burmester
text: # Moss Burmester
  
  Moss James Burmester (born 19 June 1981) is a New Zealand swimmer and diver. His specialist event is the 200m butterfly in which he holds the Commonwealth record of 1:54.35 set at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
  
  Burmester was born in Hastings, New Zealand. He grew up in Tauranga and received his education at Otumoetai College. His career highlights in the 200m butterfly are 4th at the 2008 Olympics and gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne where he set a Commonwealth Games record of 1:56.64.
  
  He was the bronze medallist in the 100m butterfly at the 2006 Commonwealth Games with a time of 52.73 and set a New Zealand record of 52.37 when qualifying for New Zealand's 2008 Olympic team.
  
  After he retired from swimming, he became an unassisted diver.
  
  ## Career highlights
  
  ### 2008 Olympics
  
  In the 200m butterfly final, Burmester led for the first 50m, slipped to second behind Michael Phelps for the middle 100m and finished 4th equal, setting a Commonwealth record of 1:54.35.
  
  ### 2006 Commonwealth Games
  
  * 1st: 200 m butterfly (1:56.64 – Games record)
  * 3rd: 100 m butterfly (52.73)
  
  ### 2004 Olympic Games
  
  * 28th 400 m freestyle (3:57.29)
  * 28th 1500 m freestyle (15:56.42)
  * 12th: 200 m butterfly (1:58.09)
  
  ### 2002 Commonwealth Games
  
  * 18th: 100 m freestyle (53.21)
  * 16th: 50 m butterfly (25.50)
  * 9th: 100 m butterfly (54.96)
  * 4th: 200 m butterfly (1:59.94)
  