Tia Brooks

TiA Ra'shone Brooks (August 2, 1990) is an American shot putter.

TiA Ra'shone Brooks was born August 2, 1990, in Saginaw, Michigan, to parents Cyd D. Neal and David Brooks.

At East 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 quit track 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 the discus and shot put at the Midwest Meet of Champions.

Brooks attended University of Oklahoma.

During her first year, she lost feeling in her legs while lifting weights and had to be carried out on a spine board.

She was diagnosed with degenerative 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.

In 2010, Brooks finished fourth in the shot put at the US Championships with a new personal best distance of.

In 2011, she placed second in the shot put at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

In 2011, she was the runner-up in the shot put at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

At the national championships, she finished fifth.

During the season, she upped her personal best to (outdoor) and finished the year ranked fourth in the country.

In the qualification round of the shot put, she finished 11th in her group with a distance of.

In 2012, she won both events before competing at the US Olympic Trials.

At the Trials, she placed third in the shot put and qualified to represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Also in 2012, she was a Bowerman Award semifinalist.

She is the American collegiate record holder indoors with her personal record of.

In 2012, Brooks won the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championship with a distance of.

She went on to win the Outdoor Championships as well, turning in a throw of.

She was named first team All-American in both the indoor and outdoor events and was a Bowerman Award semifinalist, an award given annually to the country's top track and field student-athlete.

At the 2012 US Olympic Trials, Brooks threw the shot put on her second attempt.

The distance held up and she won third place.

The throw qualified her to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Afterwards she said, "It's so surreal. When I found out I made it, I cried."

Her college outdoor best, set during 2012, is (outdoor).

She holds two school records in the shot put.

She graduated from Oklahoma in 2013.

At the start of the 2013 season she defended her NCAA indoor title with a throw of, breaking Laura Gerraughty's American collegiate record.

Brooks was coached by former Olympian, Brian Blutreich.

Brooks entered the Olympics seeded 16th.

She placed 19th at the Olympics.

Her throw placed her 19th overall and was well short of the necessary to make the top eight and advance to the finals.

Brooks was joined at the Olympics by Oklahoma teammate and close friend Brittany Borman, who won the javelin at The Olympic Trials.