Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph (June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994) is one of the greatest American athletes of the 20th century. From a young age, she overcame many obstacles and racial adversity to reach the Olympics for track and field. In the 1960 Rome Olympics, she was the first American woman to win 3 Olympic Gold Medals in a single Olympic games throwing her into international fame. For a young girl who was told she would never walk, her talent for running helped break down racial barriers for black Americans and prove that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Wilma’s Early Years

Wilma was born prematurely in 1940 St. Bethlehem (now known as Clarksville), TN, as the 20th child of 22 in her family. Her family grew up poor in the segregated south and Wilma suffered many illnesses. As a child, she contracted scarlet fever, pneumonia and polio (at age 5). Her illness from polio left her disabled in her left leg and she was told she would never walk again. Wilma grew up in a supportive family who were always there to help her through her illnesses, massage her legs and support her any way they could. At that time, medical care for black citizens was scarce in their hometown. Therefore, her mother sought care in Nashville and Wilma would wear a leg brace until the age of 12. She believed she would be able to walk, and walk she did.

It was around age 12 she discovered a passion for sports and joined her schools basketball team. She was a natural athlete, and runner, and her speed earned her the nickname ‘skeeter.’ After a chance meeting with a coach named Ed Temple, she was recruited to train with the track coach at Tennessee State. By 16, she had qualified for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. She was the youngest American on the team and walked away with her first medal, a Bronze for the 400 meter relay! After that, she graduated from High School and went on to study education at Tennessee State. During the late 1950’s she trained hard and qualified for the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Rome 1960: The Olympics

1960 brought about the summer Olympic games in Rome, Italy. Wilma was a sophomore in College and ready for the gold! She had recently set a running record for speed in the 200 meter dash at a college in Abilene, TX, which held for 8 years. This wouldn’t be the only record she would set in the time to come.

At the Olympics, Wilma competed in the 100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint (setting a new Olympic record of 23.2 seconds in the opening heat) and the 400-meter relay. Her relay team set a world record of 44.4 seconds in the semi-finals and won with a time of 44.5 seconds. Amazingly, Wilma walked away with gold medals in all 3 events! This launched her into the spotlight as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. At 20 years old, Wilma was the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympic games. She came to be known as the fastest woman in history!

Wilma’s Later Life & Legacy

After the Olympics and European tour, Wilma was welcomed in her home town of Clarksville a hero and champion. They celebrated October 4th as ‘Welcome Wilma Day.’ There was a full day of festivities planned including a parade. However, the festivities were to be segregated in which case Wilma would refuse to participate. With her insistence, this event would be the first fully integrated of its kind in the city’s history.

After the Olympics, Wilma raced for a couple more years, setting more world records, then retired from track competition. She refocused on college and graduated with her bachelors degree in elementary education from Tennessee State. In 1963, Wilma participated in a civil-rights protest to desegregate a restaurant in her hometown. Not long after, the mayor declared the public facilities would be fully integrated.

Wilma lived all over the country teaching, coaching track and volunteering for non-profits. In 1977 her autobiography, Wilma: The Story of Wilma Rudolph was published. Wilma also established a non-profit in 1981 called the Wilma Rudolph Foundation aimed to train young athletes. in 1994 Wilma was diagnosed with cancer and died shortly after. Thousands attended her memorial and the Tennessee state flag flew at half-mast in her honor.

To this day, Wilma is proof that your dreams and goals are within reach. Even as a child, she was overcoming huge obstacles to reach her goals. She was one of the first black and female role models for athletes worldwide. Her courage and determination will serve as inspiration for generations to come.

Some of Wilma’s greatest accomplishments, honors and awards include:

• Bronze Medal for the 4×100 relay – 1956 Olympics
• World record set in the 200-meter at 22.9 seconds – 1960
• 3 Gold Medals – 1960 Olympics
• Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award – 1961
• World record-set in the 100-meter at 11.2 seconds – 1961
• Inducted to the Black Sports Hall of Fame – 1973
• Inducted to the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame – 1980
• Inducted to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame – 1983
• First woman to receive the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Silver Anniversary Award – 1990