John Brooks

John William Brooks (July 31, 1910 – October 9, 1990) was an American long jumper. He competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, placing seventh in the long jump.

Career Representing the University of Chicago, Brooks placed second behind Lambert Redd at the 1932 NCAA championships with a season-best jump of 25 ft in (7.69 m). He placed fourth with a leap of 24 ft in (7.58 m) at the 1932 United States Olympic Trials, missing qualifying for the 1932 Summer Olympics by one place. Brooks won the NCAA championship in 1933, his senior year; he placed second behind Jesse Owens at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)'s national outdoor championships that year. He placed third at the AAU meet in 1934 and 1935; he set his lifetime best, 25 ft in (7.76 m), at the 1935 championships. Brooks took second at the AAU meet in 1937, his final podium appearance. In 2016, the 1936 Olympic journey of the eighteen Black American athletes, including Brooks and Pickett, was documented in the film Olympic Pride, American Prejudice.