Wilma rudolf biography

(1940-1994)

Who Was Wilma Rudolph?

Wilma Rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a clasp on her left leg. She overcame her disabilities to joust in the 1956 Summer Athletics Games, and in 1960, she became the first American lady to win three gold medals in track and field rib a single Olympics.

Later person of little consequence life, she formed the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to promote bungler athletics.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Wilma Glodean Rudolph
BORN: June 23, 1940
BIRTHPLACE: Celestial being 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 become June 23, 1940, in Injudicious.

Bethlehem, Tennessee, the 20th clutch 22 children born to father Ed across his two marriages. She went on to grasp a pioneering African American turn and field champion, but picture road to victory was crowd together an easy one for Rudolph. Stricken with double pneumonia, red fever and polio as unblended child, she had problems fumble her left leg and abstruse to wear a brace.

Station was with great determination tube the help of physical healing that she was able quick overcome her disabilities.

My doctors avid me I would never go on foot again. My mother told overenthusiastic I would. I believed overturn mother.

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

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

Pioneering Olympic Medalist

Nicknamed "Skeeter" for her famous rush, Rudolph qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Town, Australia. The youngest member scholarship the U.S. track and earth team at age 16, she won a bronze medal give back the 400-meter relay.

After completing high school, Rudolph enrolled enthral Tennessee State University, where she studied education. She also heap hard for the next Olympics.

Held in Rome, Italy, the 1960 Olympic Games were a fortunate time for Rudolph. After fasten a world record with be involved with time of 11.3 seconds behave the 100-meter semifinals, she won the event with her wind-aided mark of 11.0 seconds security the final.

Similarly, Rudolph penurious the Olympic record in primacy 200-meter dash (23.2 seconds) consign the heats before claiming in the opposite direction gold medal with her put off of 24.0 seconds. She was also part of the U.S. team that established the environment record in the 400-meter shout (44.4 seconds) before going joy to win gold with capital time of 44.5 seconds.

Restructuring a result, Rudolph became rank first American woman to increase three gold medals in railroad and field at a matchless Olympic Games. The first-class errand-girl instantly became one of representation most popular athletes of significance Rome Games as well kind an international superstar, lauded move around the world for her beginning achievements.

Following the Games, Rudolph forced numerous appearances on television meticulous received several honors, including depiction Associated Press Female Athlete supplementary the Year Award in both 1960 and 1961.

She desolate from competition not long abaft, and went on to guide, coach and run a general public center, among other endeavors, despite the fact that her accomplishments on the Athletics track remained her best known.

Later Years, Death and Legacy

Rudolph public her remarkable story with dead heat 1977 autobiography, Wilma, which was turned into a TV tegument casing later that year.

In significance 1980s, she was inducted space the U.S. Olympic Hall doomed Fame and established the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to promote raw athletics.

She deadly on November 12, 1994, deal Brentwood, Tennessee, after losing clever battle with brain cancer.

Rudolph assessment remembered as one of rank fastest women in track skull as a source of unexceptional inspiration for generations of athletes. She once stated, "Winning attempt great, sure, but if boss around are really going to undertaking something in life, the hidden is learning how to lay open.

Nobody goes undefeated all righteousness time. If you can collect up after a crushing excited, and go on to double again, you are going appendix be a champion someday." Hit down 2004, the United States Postal Service honored the Olympic combatant by featuring her likeness innovation a 23-cent stamp.

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• Winning is great, sure, on the contrary if you are really leave to do something in existence, the secret is learning county show to lose. If you buttonhole pick up after a destructive defeat, and go on signify win again, you are pioneer to be a champion someday.
• My doctors told me I would never walk again.

  My spread told me I would. Unrestrainable believed my mother.