Tia Brooks

Tia Brooks

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1990-08-02)August 2, 1990
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	109 kg (240 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event	Shot put
College team	Oklahoma Sooners ('09-'14)
Club	Nike
Achievements and titles
Personalbest(s)	Shot put (outdoor):19,73m Shot put (indoor):19,22m

Tia Ra'shone Brooks(August 2, 1990) is an Americanshot putter.In 2011, she placed second in the shot put at both theNCAA IndoorandOutdoor Championships.In 2012, she won both events before competing at theUS Olympic Trials.At the Trials, she placed third in the shot put and qualified to represent the United States at the2012 Summer Olympics.She placed 19th at the Olympics. Also in 2012, she was aBowerman Awardsemifinalist.

She is theAmerican collegiate recordholder indoors with her personal record of 19.22 m (63 ft1⁄2in).

Early life

Tia Ra'shone Brooks was born August 2, 1990, inSaginaw, Michigan,to parents Cyd D. Neal and David Brooks.AtEast Kentwood High School,she primarily ran sprint events before her coach, John Makinen convinced her that she was better suited for throwing events.Initially, she fought the change and threatened to quittrack and field."I didn't really want to throw the shot put," she explained. "I didn't want to be the stereotypical thrower... the big girl who didn't run and wasn't athletic."After a heart-to-heart talk with her mother, Brooks relented.During high school, she was a four-time all-state honoree and a two-time regional champion. In her final year, she won the 2008 state title with a 14.65 m (48'0+1⁄2").She finished second in both thediscusand shot put at the Midwest Meet of Champions.

Brooks attendedUniversity of Oklahoma.During her first year, she lost feeling in her legs while lifting weights and had to be carried out on aspine board.She was diagnosed withdegenerative disc disorder,two bulging discs, and a narrowing of the spine.Her doctor advised her to give up the shot put, but Brooks pressed on. After a year of rehab and strength training, she returned to the sport in 2010.She graduated from Oklahoma in 2013.

University of Oklahoma

In 2010, Brooks finished fourth in the shot put at theUS Championshipswith a new personal best distance of 17.37 m (56 ft11+3⁄4in).In 2011, she was the runner-up in the shot put at both theNCAA IndoorandOutdoor Championships.At the national championships, she finished fifth.During the season, she upped her personal best to 18.00 m (59 ft1⁄2in) (outdoor) and finished the year ranked fourth in the country.

In 2012, Brooks won the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championship with a distance of 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in). She went on to win the Outdoor Championships as well, turning in a throw of 18.44 m (60 ft5+3⁄4in).She was named first teamAll-Americanin both the indoor and outdoor events and was aBowerman Awardsemifinalist, an award given annually to the country's top track and field student-athlete.

At the2012 US Olympic Trials,Brooks threw the shot put 18.34 m (60 ft 2 in) on her second attempt.The distance held up and she won third place.The throw qualified her to compete in the2012 Summer Olympics.Afterwards she said, "It's so surreal. When I found out I made it, I cried."

Brooks entered the Olympics seeded 16th. In thequalification round of the shot put,she finished 11th in her group with a distance of 17.72 m (58 ft1+1⁄2in).Her throw placed her 19th overall and was well short of the 18.45 m (60 ft6+1⁄4in) necessary to make the top eight and advance to the finals.Brooks was joined at the Olympics by Oklahoma teammate and close friendBrittany Borman,who won the javelin at The Olympic Trials.

At the start of the 2013 season she defended her NCAA indoor title with a throw of 19.22 m (63 ft1⁄2in), breakingLaura Gerraughty's Americancollegiate record.

Brooks was coached by former Olympian,Brian Blutreich.Her college outdoor best, set during 2012, is 18.47 m (60 ft 7 in) (outdoor).She holds two school records in the shot put.

Professional

Tia competed in the2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipswhere she earned silver medal in shot put with a throw of 18.83 m (61 ft9+1⁄4in).
Tia competed in the2013 World Championships in Athletics – Women's shot putwhere she placed 8th in the shot put final with a throw of 18.09 m (59 ft 4 in).
Tia competed in the2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsinSacramento, California,where she earned bronze medal in shot put with a throw of 18.83 m 61'9+1⁄2".
Tia is represented byNikeand trains at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, California under the tutelage ofArt Venegas.
Tia won the silver medal in the shot put at2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsin 18.93 m (62 ft1+1⁄4in) which is the 7th best throw in the world in 2015as of July 5.
Tia represented USA in2015 World Championships in Athleticsplacing 13th inshot putin 17.71 m (58 ft 1 in).
Tia competed in the2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)where she placed 4th in the shot put final with a throw of 18.94 m (62 ft1+1⁄2in).

Personal life

Brooks attended East Kentwood High School where she played varsity on their track team. Brooks currently lives inKentwood, Michigan.She has four siblings: Tor'i and DeMarcus Brooks, David Brooks Jr., and Teiah Faulk.

External links

• Tia Brooks-WannemacheratWorld Athletics
• Tia Brooksatlegacy.USATF.org(archived)
• "Tia Brooks at Sooner Sports".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-29.Retrieved2012-07-19.