John Brooks (athlete) facts for kids
John William Brooks (born July 31, 1910 – died October 9, 1990) was an American athlete who was great at the long jump. He competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, where he finished seventh in the long jump event.
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Early Achievements in Long Jump
John William Brooks showed his talent early on. While representing the University of Chicago, he achieved a great jump of 7.69 meters (25 feet, 2.75 inches) at the 1932 NCAA championships. He finished second in this competition.
Later that year, he competed in the 1932 United States Olympic Trials. He jumped 7.58 meters (24 feet, 10.625 inches), placing fourth. This meant he just missed out on going to the 1932 Summer Olympics by one spot.
Winning Championships
In 1933, during his final year at college, Brooks won the NCAA championship. This was a big achievement for him. That same year, he also placed second at the national outdoor championships, finishing right behind the famous athlete Jesse Owens.
Brooks continued to perform well, taking third place at the national championships in both 1934 and 1935. In 1935, he set his personal best jump, reaching an amazing 7.76 meters (25 feet, 5.5 inches).
Competing in the Olympics
At the 1936 Olympic Trials, John Brooks once again placed second, right behind Jesse Owens. His jump of 7.70 meters (25 feet, 3.375 inches) earned him a spot on the American team for the Olympic Games in Berlin.
In the Olympic final, Brooks finished seventh. His best jump there was 7.41 meters (24 feet, 3.75 inches). This jump was helped a little by the wind. In 1937, he took second place at the national championships, which was his last time finishing in the top three.
Inspiring Others
Besides his own athletic career, John Brooks also helped coach Tidye Pickett. Tidye Pickett made history as the first African-American woman to compete in the Olympic Games.
In 2016, a film called Olympic Pride, American Prejudice was made. It told the story of the eighteen Black American athletes, including John Brooks and Tidye Pickett, who competed in the 1936 Olympics.
