Lela Brooks

Lela Alene Brooks, speed skater (born 7 February 1908 in Toronto, ON; died 11 September 1990 in Owen Sound, ON). Brooks dominated women’s speed skating in the 1920s and 1930s, winning titles in all distances — from the 220-yard (200m) to the one-mile (1,600m) event. Encouragement from speed skating parents, strong self-motivation and a fierce competitive instinct enabled this “Queen of the Blades” to succeed. Without formal coaching, she learned to leave the starting post quickly and had the stamina to hold her lead. Between 1921 and 1935 she won all the speed skating titles available to women, from provincial to world levels, and set new records at most of these levels. She competed at the 1932 Olympics but did not medal. Brooks was also named to the 1936 Olympic team but opted instead for marriage and retirement. She was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame in 1972.