Brooke Buschkuehl (nee Stratton) began her athletics journey at the age of five at the Nunawading Little Athletics Centre, inspired by her older brother, Jamie. Her passion for the long jump ignited when she won the U9 state title, marking the beginning of a stellar junior career. Brooke made her international debut at the World Youth Championships in 2009, placing 10th, followed by appearances at the world juniors in 2010 and 2012.
In April 2013, after enduring several bouts of illness and injury, Brooke was diagnosed with coeliac disease, which had caused significant fatigue over the previous two years. By changing her diet, her energy and wellness improved, leading to better performance on the field.
Education and Early Achievements
- School: Attended Wheelers Hill Campus from 2007 to 2011.
- Junior Career Highlights:
- World Youth Championships 2009: Placed 10th.
- World Juniors: Competed in 2010 and 2012.
Health Challenges and Recovery
- Diagnosis: Diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2013, struggled with fatigue for two years.
- Recovery: Improved energy and performance after changing her diet.
Senior Career Milestones
- 2014 Commonwealth Games: Selected but had to withdraw due to injury.
- 2015 World Championships: Leaped 6.64m in the qualifying round.
- 2016 Breakthrough:
- Personal Best: Improved her PB to 7.05m, breaking a 14-year-old Australian record.
- World Indoor Championships: Placed fifth with a leap of 6.75m.
- Rio Olympics: Placed seventh with a leap of 6.74m.
Continued Success
- 2017 World Championships: Placed sixth, highest by an Australian in the event.
- 2018 Commonwealth Games: Won silver with a leap of 6.77m.
- 2019 World Championships: Placed 10th, with four competitions over 6.70m.
- 2021 Tokyo Olympics: Achieved her longest ever leap of 6.83m, placing seventh.
Recent Achievements and Challenges
- 2022 Comeback:
- Knee Surgery: Underwent surgery, delaying her season.
- New Australian Record: Set a new record with a jump of 7.13m in Chula Vista.
- World Championships: Finished fifth with a jump of 6.87m.
- Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Won silver again with a leap of 6.95m.
- 2023 Season:
- World Championships in Budapest: Missed the final with a leap of 6.55m in qualifying.
- Diamond League: Finished fourth with a leap of 6.71m.
- 2024 Season:
- Mental Health Struggles: Opened up about her challenges on Instagram, sharing her journey to seek help.
- National Title: Achieved a season’s best of 6.50m in April, claiming her sixth national title.
- International Performance: Reached 6.62m in America in June.
Brooke will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women’s Long Jump.
Photo Credit: Olympics Australia
