For Aaron Brooks, Paris means more than one thing. It’s not just a chance for him to win an Olympic gold but also to carry forward his family’s sporting legacy. Though the world knows about his brother Isaiah Brooks, a fellow combat sports athlete (MMA), the sporting history of Brooks extends beyond just his sibling. A history that makes one wonder whether Brooks was destined to be an Olympian.

Grandson of Maurice Boyd, Aaron Brooks, has heard stories of sporting excellence throughout his life. And it isn’t surprising after all, the family has a variety of sportsmen in it. For instance, Maurice and his brother Kenny Boyd played in the Cadets football team and were a big name then. In fact, Kenny was eventually drafted into the NBA by the New Orleans Jazz. However, the story doesn’t end there.

Maurice’s cousin Tammy Davis Thompson was a world-record-setting hurdler. Though he couldn’t make it to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Thompson became a popular name in sports. But despite all of that Maurice noted, “there is nobody in our family that wrestled.” If only he knew that his grandson Aaron Brooks was about to end that dry phase. 

Brooks is the son of Ranelle, the daughter of Maurice. Despite the family’s rich sporting history, none of them did wrestling. However, Aaron Brooks wanted to create history. With four state titles and four NCAA championships, the 24-year-old might be the most decorated athlete in his family. And that is undoubtedly a huge feat, but then the coming Thursday and Friday could push Brooks even further ahead of his family.

Aaron Brooks continues to impress his grandfather

“I tell people, I’m living my dream through Aaron,” Maurice Boyd said while talking about his grandson. “He’s very humble. He has a lot of respect for his opponents.” That is a side of Aaron Brooks that has always inspired wrestling lovers. Despite beating the 3x World Champion and the reigning gold medalist David Taylor, Brooks has remained as humble as ever. That is a testament to his sportsmanship.

However, despite this Brooks’ wrestling story has always surprised Boyd. After all, he hadn’t seen any wrestling emerging from his family. So even when Aaron Brooks excelled in the sport as a child, Boyd thought he wouldn’t be continuing for long. But then Brooks was determined and his mind was set. As a result, not only did he become a wrestler but went 89-3 in his college career. 

And now, the 24-year-old is looking to add a special honor to his family’s history – an Olympic gold medal. Could he succeed in continuing American domination in the 86kg category? The answer is arriving soon.