Wilma Rudolph

She was born on June 23, 1940, and Died November 12, 1994, in Clarksville, Tennessee. Wilma was from a large family, She was the 20th child of 22 children.

When Wilma Rudolph was four years old. She was stricken with polio which leaves most totally debilitated and unable to walk. To stack the odds against her, even more, her family was poor and could not afford decent medical care.

Her mother was determined to do everything she could to ensure Wilma’s ability to walk again. The doctors were not very encouraging and said she would not be able to walk again. It was at this point her mother began taking her every week on a long bus trip to a hospital to receive therapy. By the time she was 8 her determination allowed her to walk with a leg brace.

Wilma Rudolph Biography

Wilma Rudolph Career

A track coach encouraged her to start running. During her senior year in high school. She qualified for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia at which Wilma won a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter relay.

In the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, she won two gold medals; one for the 100-meter race and one for the 200-meter race. In spite of her spraining her ankle, she ignored the pain and helped her team to win another gold medal for the 400-meter relay.

She retired from the sport of running when she was 22 years old, however, she continued being active in the sport in coaching.

She died of brain cancer in 1994. Even after her death, her influence still lives on in the lives of many young people who look up to her. As an example of overcoming diversity, her unbeatable spirit is a role model we could all learn from.

Wilma Rudolph Olympic

Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Club	TSU Tigerbelles, Nashville
Retired	1962
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	1956 Summer Olympics 1960 Summer Olympics
Women’s athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1960 Rome	100 m
1960 Rome	200 m
1960 Rome	4×100 m relay
1956 Melbourne	4×100 m relay