Who is Wilma Rudolph and why is she famous?

Answer 1

Wilma Rudolph was an exceptional American track and field athlete who overcame debilitating childhood illnesses and went on to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph was born in 1940 in Bethlehem, Tenn. The twentieth of 22 children, she was born with polio and 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. But Wilma had a loving and devoted family who made sure she got medical attention and who provided physical therapy themselves four times a day. She wore a leg brace from the time she was five until she was 11 years old. Then, one Sunday, she removed it and walked down the aisle of her church.

When Wilma was 13, she got involved in organized sports at school, including basketball and track. Soon she was running and winning races. She was invited to a training camp at Tennessee State University by coach Ed Temple, who coached numerous track and field athletes and became Wilma's most important professional influence.


In 1956, when she was still a sophomore in high school, she participated in the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. She lost the 200 meter race, but her relay team took home the bronze medal.

Wilma became more determined than ever. In 1958, she began college at Tennessee State University and became a member of Ed Temple's "Tigerbelles" track team. In 1960, she set a world record for the 200 meter dash during the Olympic trials. Then during the Olympic games in Rome, she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash and the 400 meter relay. When she returned to Tennessee, she was honored with her hometown's first racially integrated parade.

The next year she received a Sullivan Award, which is given annually to the top amateur athlete in the United States. Subsequent honors included the Black Sports Hall of Fame, the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame. In 1993, she became the first recipient of President Clinton's National Sports Award.

Wilma had worked her way through school and later became a coach and teacher. Her autobiography, "Wilma Rudolph on Track", was a bestseller, and in 1977 it became a television movie, starring Cicely Tyson. Wilma's greatest pride was her four children.


On Nov. 12, 1994, Wilma Rudolph died of a brain tumor at the age of 54. The Olympic flag covered her casket at her funeral. She will always be remembered for her inspirational determination to overcome her physical disabilities. Through the love of her family and her religious convictions she rose above the racism and segregation of her time. She recognized the importance of good teachers in her own life, and later became a teacher herself. Wilma Rudolph was not only a sports hero, she was also a family hero and a teacher hero.

Answer 2

Wilma Rudolph Childhood

Answer 3

Wilma Glodean Rudolph (June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994) was an American athlete and three time Olympic champion.

Rudolph was born in Clarksville, Tennessee and at early age it was discovered that she, the 20th of 22 children, had polio. Her mother took her to a hospital for blacks 50 miles from their home twice a week, and rubbed her leg 4 times a day.Finally at age 12, she could walk normally again — and she decided to become an athlete on the influence of a track coach. She lost many of her early races. Slowly she went from last, to second from last, to first in all her races. She was playing for the basketball team of her junior high school, when she was spotted by the track and field coach. While attending Burt High School, Rudolph became a basketball star, setting state records for scoring and leading her team to the state championship. She later became a track star, competing at the 1956 Summer Olympics at the age of 16 where she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 m relay. After high school, Rudolph was granted a full scholarship to Tennessee State University where she ultimately received her Bachelor's degree in education in 1963. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome she won three Olympic titles; in the 100 m, 200 m and the 4 x 100 m relay. In 1961, Rudolph received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

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Answer 4

At an early age it was discovered that she, the 20th of 22 children, had polio. Her mother took her to a hospital for blacks 50 miles from their home twice a week, and rubbed her leg 4 times a day.Finally at age 12, she could walk normally again

She became a track star, competing at the 1956 Summer Olympics at the age of 16 where she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 m relay.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome she won three Olympic titles; in the 100 m, 200 m and the 4 x 100 m relay. In 1961, Rudolph received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

In 2004, the United States Postal Service issued a 23 cent postage stamp featuring Rudolph.

Answer 5

I read the other answers and they are all accurate but I wanted to add a small tidbit. Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali was on the US Olympic team along with Wilma Rudolph in 1960. He won a gold medal in boxing and she won three Olympic titles and it was even said that Muhammad Ali had a great admiration for Wilma Rudolph.

Answer 6

Wilma Rudolph was a three time Olympic champion in track and field. She had polio as a child, so the fact that she persevered and went on to win three gold medals and one bronze medal in the Olympics (the three golds were at Rome in 1960 and the bronze was at Melborne in 1956) is pretty incredible. She died of brain cancer in 1994, and was on a US postage stamp in 2004.

Answer 7

Wilma Rudolph was a very famous athlete. Th reason she was famous is because she was born in a time when racial discrimination between blacks & whites were at its peak, she was crippled with polio at a young age and when she recovered thanks to her mum's constant support at the age of 12 she decided to be an athlete. she went on to represent US for olympics in 1956 at the age of 16 and won bronze for the event 4 x 100m relay and thereafter won gold in Olympics 1960 for various athletics events - 100m, 200m 4x 100m relay. she died of brain cancer eventually.

Answer 8

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She had polio as a child & couldn't walk until she was 12. Four years later she won a bronze medal. In the Rome Olympics in 1960 she won 3 gold medals, 2 years after giving birth to her first child. She taugh & coached until she died in 1994

Answer 9

Famous black woman athlete - 3 gold medals in track and field

Answer 10

Why Is Wilma Rudolph Famous