If you were told there was no chance of walking or competing in
athletics, how would it affect you? In a time where unknown cures
didn’t have advanced medicine and science, Wilma Rudolph defined all
of this and more. Born prematurely at 4.5 pounds on June 23, 1940, in
Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee (now part of Clarksville). Being a part of a
family with twenty-two siblings, one can imagine the many adversities
that were to occur.
Rudolph encountered several childhood illnesses: including pneumonia
and scarlet fever. Contracted infantile paralysis caused by polio at the
age of five years old. The race was just beginning in preparing her life
for many hurdles. Poliovirus took most of her strength in the left leg
and foot, which caused her to wear a leg brace until she turned twelve
years old. With very little medical care for African Americans in the city,
her parents sought treatments at Meharry Medical College (now
Nashville General Hospital at Meharry).
Two years of weekly bus trips to Nashville in hopes of regaining
strength in her weakened leg, there was hope in Rudolph being a
normal teenager into adulthood. Home therapy massage treatments
four times a day from family members, while wearing orthopedic shoes
to support her foot. All of this took a toll on her but learned how to walk without the brace and shoe support later.
Homeschooling was normal due to her illness, and she missed out on attending
kindergarten and first grade. It wasn’t until high school where her love for athletics picked up, playing basketball, and running track. During her senior year, she
became pregnant with her first child, who was born in 1958. Enrolling
at Tennessee State University, her aspirations for track continued. 1960
was a turning point for Rudolph, where she became a legend.
During the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, she won the 100 and
200 meter sprints: along with the 4x100 meter relay, winning gold in
each event. Becoming the first American woman to win three gold
medals in a single Olympiad. Drawing inspiration from Jesse Owens, this
was personal.
Overcoming early struggles in her childhood, this was the biggest win
she accomplished. Battling the unknown poliovirus, Rudolph’s
determination in racing against the odds defines her legacy. Being the
most popular athlete at the 1960 Olympics drew a massive television
audience. Since it was nationally televised, the world witnessed
greatness in Rudolph’s story. She was her generation’s first female role
model; embracing feminine beauty and poise.
Rudolph’s stardom in the 1960 Olympics launched her to become one
of the most highly visible black women across the world.
She was an iconic figure during a turbulent time in American history. A successful
female black athlete, she drew viewership before it became what it is
today. In today’s modern sports spectrum, Rudolph would’ve
dominated the Olympic coverage. Even with being an amateur athlete,
she didn’t earn a significant amount of money.
Wilma Rudolph’s legacy of racing against the odds is truly inspiring.
Beating polio, regaining leg strength to become a superstar in Olympic
history. Physical limitations didn’t stop her from reaching her goals; it
drove her to define the percentile of overcoming the impossible. You
can’t mention Olympic galore without Wilma Rudolph.
