Brooke Billett

Brooke Billett — Brooke started athletics in 1994, competing mostly in school competitions. She was selected for the 1998 World Junior Championships, however didn’t progress past the qualifying rounds.

In February 2000 Brooke became only the 7th Australian to throw over 60m and broke 70m for the first time. throwing 70.72 to win her second national title. In March she threw 67.90m at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games to take gold.

Brooke used to use three-turns in competition but progressed to four after the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Her uncle, Brian Booth was a great Australian hockey player (1956 Olympics – 5th) and Australian cricket captain. He played 29 tests for Australia in the 1950s and 1960s, averaging 42 runs with the bat. Brooke’s dad was a leading state level cricketer, whilst she played netball until she was nine.

Brooke has won the Port Lincoln Tuna Tossing competition three times, throwing 8-9kg frozen tuna fish. The event, held on Australia Day, attracts competitors from around the world. Brooke, who uses one turn in these competitions, throws the tuna about 21m.

Away from hammer and tuna throwing, Brooke’s interests include shopping, going to the movies, chatting to friends and spending time with her husband and nieces and nephewand cooking.

She dislikes flying and has a blue heeler dog named Winnie.

In 2004, Brooke married South Australian hammer thrower, Darren Billett.

Competition Stats

Australian Championships

Hammer: 1997 – 3rd (U18), 1998 – 2nd (U18), 1st (U20), 1999 – 4th, 2000 – 2nd, 2000(OGT) – 4th, 2002 – 2nd, 2003 – 1st, 2004 3rd, 2005 – DNC, 2006 – 1st

International Championships

Olympic Games: 2004 — Hammer Throw qual round (63.88m)
Commonwealth Games: 2002 — Hammer Throw 4th (63.13m), ‘06 – 1st (67.90m)
World Junior Championships: 1998 — Hammer Throw qual round (52.15m)
World Championships: 2003 — Hammer Throw qual round (64.84m)
World Cup: 2006 — Hammer Throw 7th (65.92m)

Progression

Hammer Throw

1995 — 31.09m
1996 — 43.64m
1997 — 52.68m
1998 — 56.89m
1999 — 54.80m
2000 — 61.89m
2001 — 62.64m
2002 — 67.87m
2003 — 67.40m
2004 — 68.78m
2005 — 68.25m
2006 — 70.72m

Events / Personal Bests

Hammer Throw

2006 — 70.72m

Sporting Career

Brooke started athletics in 1994, competing mostly in school competitions. She was selected for the 1998 World Junior Championships, however didn’t progress past the qualifying rounds. In February 2000 she became only the 7th Australian to throw over 60m.
Brooke sealed her Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games selection with a second place at the Telstra A-championships in April, where she threw 66.11m to become the No 3 in Australian history.
She prepared very well for the Commonwealth Games moving to a new level by improving her personal best to 67.87m in Szombathely, Hungary in July, defeating Bronwyn Eagles and moving to No 16 in the world. In the final, Brooke moved into third place mid-competition before being relegated to 4th by teammate Karyne Di Marco.
After a mixed mid-domestic season in 2003, which included a good best throw of 66.56m, Brooke was a surprise winner of the national title with a distance of 66.41m. She improved her season best to 67.40 in May in Osaka, again defeating Eagles. At the 2003 Paris World Championships Brooke didn’t qualify for the final, throwing 64.84m in the qual round.
The following year in Athens, she threw a disapoointing 63.88m to place 33rd in the qualifying rounds and suffered a hip injury in October 2004, which was followed by a very low key 2004-05 domestic season.
Brooke had an excellent start to the 2005-06 season with several throws over 67m. She won the 2006 Nationals with a massive pb of 70.72m to move into 2nd on the Australian All-Time list. In March she threw 67.90m at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games to take gold and later in the year finished 7th in the Athens World Cup.