Lela Brooks, a member of the Old Orchard Skating Club in Toronto, was the best female speed skater in the world in the late 1920s, and early 1930s. She set a total of 17 World Records, but all of them were skated on distances in Imperial measures. Six of these World Records were skated in 1925, when she was only 17-years-old. The only time she skated metric distances was during the 1932 Olympic Winter Games, when she skated in the demonstration events. In Lake Placid, she won all of her heats, but placed no higher than fourth in any of the three finals. Her time in the 1500 m heats, 2:54.0, was more than 15 seconds under the official World Record, but the time wasn’t recognized since the race was skated under the North American mass start rules. She later married to become Lela Brooks-Potter, after retiring in 1935.
Canada