Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph 1940 - 1994
At the height of her career, Wilma Rudolph was known by one title – “Fastest Woman Alive.” For Rudolph, superstardom did not come easy. Her greatness is attributable to perseverance and trust.
After being born prematurely, Rudolph developed double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio. The combination of these illnesses led to the loss of use of her left leg. Rudolph wore metal leg braces from ages six to nine. The future of Rudolph’s health was uncertain, but she kept faith by utilizing the support of her large family. “My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.”
Her doctor’s pessimistic outlook was used as fuel by Rudolph. In her first year in the brace, Rudolph started to hop on foot. By her third year in the brace, Rudolph was moving around freely. Before Rudolph was a teenager, she began playing basketball, her first love. She excelled in the sport and eventually earned All-American honors. But a chance meeting with a college coach forever changed U.S. history.
While still in high school, Rudolph was coached by the Tennessee State University track coach. This experience propelled Rudolph’s budding career (she never lost a meet in high school). At 16 years of age, Rudolph competed for and earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Her 4x100 meter relay won bronze in the 1956 Melbourne, Australia Olympic Games. Rudolph returned to the sport’s biggest stage four years later and cemented her legacy as the world’s fastest woman.
In the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, Rudolph won gold in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meter races, tying a world record in the 100 meter and eclipsing the 4x100 meter mark along the way. Following this performance, Rudolph was named 1961 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
Rudolph’s return was also historic. Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington expressed interest in organizing a welcome home celebratory parade to honor Rudolph. She acknowledged that she would not attend if the event was segregated. Ellington acquiesced, and Rudolph’s parade was the first integrated event in the history of Clarksville, Tennessee.
