Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph one of the best black female athletes and track and field athletes in world history. Rudolph won three Olympic Gold Medals at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games by winning the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and 400 meter dash. Rudolph was given many nicknames for her phenomenal effort at the games, most notably she was called La Gazzella Negra by the Italians of Rome. Rudolph is known as of the most famous Tennessee State Tigerbelles of all time.
Rudolph's rise to fame was not easy. Born one 22 children. Rudolph suffered from the polio virus which caused her to have infantile paralysis. The diseased forced Rudolph to wear a brace on leg and foot. Rudolph also developed many other diseases as a child; chicken pox, measels, whooping cough and scarlet fever. None of that including having to return to Nashville to have her twisted leg straighten. It was not until age 12 was Rudolph able to shed her brace.
She was discovered Ed Temple the track coach for the Tennessee State Tigerbelles. Rudolph only competed in track due to the break in basketball. Temple new talent when he saw it. At the age of 16 Rudolph traveled with the American team to the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Rudolph ran the 3rd leg on the 400 meter relay team that claimed bronze.
Rudolph retired at a young age as well at 22. Rudolph decided to focus on her education and becoming a elementary teacher. Rudolph was inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1973, the National Track and Field Hall of fame in 1974 and the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983. Wilma Rudolph is an icon and model athlete for all to follow. May her tremendous contribution to African-Americans in sports and to the sport of Track and Field never be forgotten.
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