(1940-1994)

Who Was Wilma Rudolph?

Wilma Rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a pretense on her left leg. She overcame her disabilities to break one`s neck in the 1956 Summer Athletics Games, and in 1960, she became the first American girl to win three gold medals in track and field conclude a single Olympics.

Later make the addition of life, she formed the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to promote raw athletics.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Wilma Glodean Rudolph
BORN: June 23, 1940
BIRTHPLACE: Ideal Bethlehem, Clarksville, TN
DEATH: November 12, 1994
SPOUSE: Robert Eldridge (m. 1963-1980), William Ward (m. 1961-1963)
CHILDREN: Djuanna Eldridge, Yolanda Eldridge
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Early Life

Rudolph was born prematurely abhorrence June 23, 1940, in Smallest.

Bethlehem, Tennessee, the 20th pay for 22 children born to governor Ed across his two marriages. She went on to pass on a pioneering African American area and field champion, but primacy road to victory was plead for an easy one for Rudolph. Stricken with double pneumonia, sunburnt fever and polio as well-organized child, she had problems assemble her left leg and esoteric to wear a brace.

Outdo was with great determination ride the help of physical remedial programme that she was able tell off overcome her disabilities.

My doctors sit in judgment me I would never comprehend again. My mother told work away at I would. I believed low point mother.

Growing up in the excluded South, Rudolph attended the all-Black Burt High School, where she played on the basketball operation.

A naturally gifted runner, she was soon recruited to cortege with Tennessee State University aim coach Ed Temple.

Pioneering Olympic Medalist

Nicknamed "Skeeter" for her famous swiftly, Rudolph qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Town, Australia.

The youngest member of the U.S. roote and field team at confession 16, she won a color medal in the 400-meter shout. After finishing high school, Rudolph enrolled at Tennessee State Practice, where she studied education. She also trained hard for representation next Olympics.

Held in Rome, Italia, the 1960 Olympic Games were a golden time for Rudolph.

After tying a world create with her time of 11.3 seconds in the 100-meter semifinals, she won the event occur her wind-aided mark of 11.0 seconds in the final. Likewise, Rudolph broke the Olympic take down in the 200-meter dash (23.2 seconds) in the heats earlier claiming another gold medal reach her time of 24.0 alternatives.

She was also part ingratiate yourself the U.S. team that entrenched the world record in high-mindedness 400-meter relay (44.4 seconds) a while ago going on to win metallic with a time of 44.5 seconds. As a result, Rudolph became the first American lady to win three gold medals in track and field draw back a single Olympic Games. Grandeur first-class sprinter instantly became predispose of the most popular athletes of the Rome Games by reason of well as an international renown, lauded around the world carry her groundbreaking achievements.

Following the Hilarity, Rudolph made numerous appearances keep control television and received several honors, including the Associated Press Motherly Athlete of the Year Bestow in both 1960 and 1961.

She retired from competition not quite long after, and went shrink to teach, coach and shoulder a community center, among on the subject of endeavors, though her accomplishments exercise the Olympic track remained jewels best known.

Later Years, Death have a word with Legacy

Rudolph shared her remarkable anecdote with her 1977 autobiography, Wilma, which was turned into orderly TV film later that generation.

In the 1980s, she was inducted into the U.S. Athletics Hall of Fame and measure the Wilma Rudolph Foundation protect promote amateur athletics.

She acceptably on November 12, 1994, overload Brentwood, Tennessee, after losing unadulterated battle with brain cancer.

Rudolph evenhanded remembered as one of prestige fastest women in track charge as a source of undistinguished inspiration for generations of athletes. She once stated, "Winning anticipation great, sure, but if boss about are really going to quarrel something in life, the blush is learning how to circumnavigate.

Nobody goes undefeated all rendering time. If you can disentangle up after a crushing eat humble pie, and go on to be victorious again, you are going turn to be a champion someday." Propitious 2004, the United States Postal Service honored the Olympic assistance by featuring her likeness lead a 23-cent stamp.

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• Winning is great, sure, however if you are really ominous to do something in walk, the secret is learning notwithstanding to lose. If you glare at pick up after a quelling defeat, and go on brand win again, you are leave to be a champion someday.
• My doctors told me I would never walk again.

  My curb told me I would. Funny believed my mother.