Wilma Rudolph was an exceptional American Track and Field runner that overcame debilitating childhood illnesses. She became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph was born in Bethlehem, Tennessee, in 1940. Wilma was such a small baby that she wasn't expected to live. She was the 20th of 22 children. She was born with polio. She also suffered from serious bouts of pneumonia and scarlet fever as a young child. All these ailments contributed to a bad leg that some said would prevent her from ever walking, much less running. In fact she was told that she would never walk again. However, Wilma had a caring and devoted family. They made sure she got medical attention and they provided the physical therapy she needed every day, four times a day. Wilma wore a leg brace from the time she was 5 until she was 11 years old. On one fateful Sunday, Wilma decided to remove the brace. Tears of joy rolled down the faces of her family and friends as they watched her walk down the aisle of her church without the leg brace.
Wilma became stronger and more active as time went by and by the time she was 13 she became involved in sports at school . This included basketball and track. Her great love of running blossomed and she began winning races. The thrill and joy of being able to run was something she never tired of.
Wilma was invited to a training camp at Tennessee State University by coach Ed Temple. He coached numerous track and field athletes and became Wilma's most important professional influence. He had seen something special in the talented young girl.
Wilma was still a sophomore in high school in 1956 when she was invited to participated in the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Although she lost the 200 meter race, her relay team took home the bronze medal. It was a thrilling experience for the teenager who only a few years earlier had not been able to walk without a leg brace. She did not like losing however and became even more determined to be the best runner she could be.
Wilma began college in 1958 at Tennessee State University where she became a member of Ed Temple's "Tigerbelles" track team. She approached her training with fierce determination and in 1960 set
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