Powered by Courage: Olympian Taliyah Brooks shares life lessons at Spokane Speed Games event

By April Eberhardt The Black Lens

Olympian Taliyah Brooks is a world class heptathlon competitor who took time to chat with me about courage, faith, and life lessons learned through athletics, on her recent visit to the Podium during the Fifth Season Spokane Speed Games on Dec. 15. Her track record touts perseverance.

In 2023, Brooks was selected for the World Athletics Championship in Budapest. This summer, at the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon, she scored a career best in the heptathlon, at 6408 points, finishing third. Shortly thereafter, Brooks competed in the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics, finishing in 11th place in the heptathlon overall.

Her direction into sports came from the urging and encouragement of her parents who knew that athletics was a doorway to opportunity. They understood that excellence in athleticism equated to, in many cases, a means to and end with regard to higher education access. Her parents were right; athletics opened up the world to Brooks.

“We did sports our whole life,” Brooks said. “The entire household did. It was just my family’s way of getting us a free education.”

Hailing from Wichita Falls, Texas, Brooks attended S.H. Rider High School and competed her way right into the University of Arkansas, winning the pentathlon at the NCAA Division I championships in 2018.

In 2021, at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, Brooks collapsed in the high temperatures while competing. Consequently, her first shot at qualifying was missed. The upset toughened Brooks into continuing her pursuit to be an Olympian, a moment where real-life education sunk in, beyond the walls of university.

“I think the biggest lesson for me was in 2021 when I did not make the Olympic team, like how I was able to get back up and try again,” she said.

Brooks reflected on her 2021 experience likening it to any other disappointment in life.

“In life, you’re going to need people around you,” Brooks said. “People are going to need you. I think sports can also teach you how to fight through adversity. Whether it’s through injuries or you’re getting sick or you’re not performing the way that you would like to perform, you still have to show up every day.

“Outside of sports, you can take some of those lessons. Like if you’re not moving up as quickly in the job or if you can’t find a job, or school is really kicking your butt.”

Faith is also a key component to the fortitude that Brooks possesses.

“I’m a Believer,” she said as she talked about how faith in what she cannot see, aligned with perseverance, helps her push through walls. She believes that trusting the process, even when not being able to see progress in the moment, is how you focus; it is bigger than instant results.

One thing that this profession has also shown Brooks is the power of teamwork. Often associated with the relationship between athletes, the collective support of the community is another perspective of team work.

“I was just getting injured throughout the track meet, and I was just having to be uplifted in prayer by my family, my friends, my coach,” she said.

Another reinforcement of the faith factor, she shares that competing means putting yourself out there; having blind faith, a pure heart, and counting on the prayers and support of her community has kept her balanced.

Knowing her small town in Texas is watching empowers Brooks. The small-town mentality can often trap people, she shared. Often there is the perception that small towns are overlooked, and a limited mindset keeps people stuck. On her return home after the Paris Olympics, Brooks took great honor in seeing all the kids who were looking up to her; she wants to model for them that big things are possible. This connection to something bigger she does not take for granted; the power of community inspires her to do her best.

“Knowing that I’m someone’s example just makes me get up every single day and just keep going even when it’s not going my way,” Brooks said.

She realizes that accomplishing things in her own life can change someone else’s; it goes beyond her own personal success, transcending over to a sense of duty to create a space for others to see their own potential. Homing in on the sentiment that everyone has something, Brooks wants the youth to know that they have a place in this world.

“You just have to find what is for you. Like you have a gift, so just find it, stick to it, and be bold in it,” Brook said, and added, “Dream big and dream boldly and you can do anything that you set your mind to.”

What does Powered by Courage mean to Taliyah Brooks?

“I think Power by Courage just means getting back up when you’ve found yourself at your lowest low. Also, standing for what’s right. Sometimes you’re going to experience things in life that are not right or you’re going to find yourself believing in something that everybody else around you doesn’t believe. Yeah – stand firm in that and be yourself. Everybody’s not going to accept you and that’s fine; you’re not for everybody but stand up for what is right.”

Brooks is spending this season of her life training in preparation for the outdoor world team this summer.