Willma+Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph is often refered to as one of the fasterst runners on the planet, but the 3 Time Gold Medalist didn't aslways have such a rewarding life. Wilma Rudolph exemplified perseverance by overcoming her rough childhood, physical disabilities, and competing in the Olympics.

Wilma Rudolph overcame her physical disabitites. With only one doctor for african americans in the state of Tennessee, the young Wilma, her mother, and her father had to ride in the back of a bus with other African americans an hour a week for her leg treatment. By the age of 4, Wilma had several diseases, including polio, leaving her left leg paralized. Since she had polio, from the age of four to twelve, she was forced to wear metal braces on her legs until she could walk. She and her family had specific leg exercises for her that strengthend her legs,and finally she was finally able to walk on her own; which meant without the braces.

Wilma Rudolph most certainly had a rough childhood. Born to an extremly poor family of twenty-four people in the 1940's, they lived in a shack with dirt flooring, no electricity, no running water, and no indoor plumbing. Those arn't the only problems Wilma and her family had, however. Wilma, at the age of four, had already had measles, mumps, scarlet fever, chicken pox, double pheumonia, and polio, leaving her left leg paralized and useless. Wilma was at the age where she was able to attend the local schoolhouse, but the school board refused to let her attend because of her useless leg. Like all other African americans of the time, Wilma and her family had to deal with the issues of segregation.

Aside from everything that had happened in her past, Wilma competed in the Olympics, winning medals each time she entered. In 1956, Wilma was recruited from her high school track team to run in the Olympics in Meleborne, Austraila, where she was the youngest member on the team. Competing in sprints, the 16 year old won a bronze medal, then returned to high school. In the 1960's Olympics, Wilma also competed, leaving with three gold medals, and two world records, which still haven't been broken. In the 100 meter relay, she brought team USA to victory with a time of 11.3 seconds. That wasn't the only race Wilma competed in, however. She ran her 100 meter sprint, winning first place, (Another gold medal) with a time of 11 seconds flat, which is 8/10 of a second slower than the men's world record timeing. Also running in this race, was the undefeted german runner, Juetta Hiene.

By overcoming her difficult childhood, physical diabilities, and competing in the Olympics, Wilma Rudolph is now often refered to as one of the, if not //the// fastest runners on earth. __Awards__ - Recieved Sullivan award in 1961 as America's Top Athlete - Inducted into the following: US Track & Field Hall of Fame (1974) US Olympic Hall of Fame (1983) International Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1980) Black Sports Hall of Fame (1980) First to recieve National Sports Award (1993)

References : Humphrey, S. (2005). //Dare to dream: 25 extraordainary lives//. (pp. 81 - 83). New York, NY : Prometheus Books. Rudolph, wilma. In Retrieved from [] Rudolph, wilma (1940–1994). In Retrieved from []- 00

 (1961). //"29th july 1961: American track athlete wilma rudolph, known as the 'black gazelle,' pauses after her record breaking 11.3 second 100m dash at the american - soviet track and field meet, lenin stadium, moscow, soviet union (russia). (photo by hulton archive/getty images)" -- image date//. (1961). [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=imh&AN=imh212206&site=srck5-live