Career
Born in Toronto, Brooks was the first female member of the Old Orchard Skating Club and began setting Ontario and Canadian records in 1923 at the age of 15. By the end of 1925, when she was 17, Brooks had broken six world records. She would ultimately set 17 world records over her skating career.
At the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, she participated in three demonstration events with all competitors from Canada and the United States. She made it to the finals in all three events, but placed no higher than fourth. Her time in the 1500 m heats, 2:54.0, was more than 15 seconds under the official world record, but the time wasn't recognised since the race was skated under the North American mass start rules.
She qualified for the 1936 Winter Olympics but chose to retire. Later that year, she married druggist Russ Campbell and moved to Owen Sound, Ontario. She died there at age 82.
Brooks was inducted into the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame (1972) and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1972).
Read more about this topic: Lela Brooks
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