Wilma Rudolph's Life And Accomplishments

Wilma Rudolph Cheers and chants sounded from the audience as Wilma Rudolph loped through the finish line, breaking the world record in a 100 meter race. Thus was significant because not only was Wilma the first and youngest, people thought she would have never achieved this, let alone ever walk…Wilma Rudolph had a touch early life that led to a huge rise to fame and a great later life. It started when Wilma had to go through with a very difficult early life. Wilma was born on June 23, 1940 in St. Bethlehem Tennessee. She was born premature, being the 20th out of 22 kids, making her family very poor, and the didn't have a very big house. As a child she was very sick. She was born paralyzed with polio, double pneumonia, and scarlet fever. Wilma had problems with her left leg and had to medal brace all the time. They doctors told her that she would never walk again. She attended an all black school. By the time she was twelve she regained her ability to walk and joined a basketball team. She was also a runner and got recruited to train with Tennessee State University coach, Ed Temple. Wilma may have had a very rough life as a child, but

In the eighth grade her sister made the track team, but Wilma did not. Her father explained that the Rudolph sister come in a package, “You get both of them or neither.” Wilma then made the track team, although basketball was still her favorite sport. She then became very well known. In the 1960 Olympic Games, Wilma broke world records in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay race, being the first and youngest to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Game. She received many nicknames. Her basketball coach and team named her “Skeeter” Because she always zipped around them. The European team named her “The Black Gazelle” for her speed, beauty, and grace. Her hometown called her their hero because of her great accomplishments. Wilma accomplished great things, and rose to huge