From Braces to the Finish Line: The incredible story of Wilma Rudolph
Born in 1940 in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee, Wilma was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely and spent much of her childhood battling one illness after another, including double pneumonia and scarlet fever.
The biggest blow came at age four when she contracted polio. The disease paralysed her left leg and curved her foot inward. Doctors told her mother she would never walk without a brace.
For years, Wilma wore a heavy metal leg brace. But her family refused to accept the prognosis.
Twice a week for several years, her mother took her on a 45-mile bus trip to a hospital that would treat Black patients during the era of segregation.
READ ALSO: Grassroots NGOs honour St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School
Her siblings learned how to massage her leg, performing physical therapy at home several times a day.
By age nine, Wilma defied the doctors. She took off the brace and, by age 12, was walking normally without any medical aid.
Wilma didn’t just want to walk; she wanted to run. She joined her high school basketball and track teams, where her natural speed quickly became undeniable.
By age 16, she had already earned a bronze medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. But it was the 1960 Rome Olympics that cemented her legacy.
In Rome, Wilma became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games:
• 100-meter dash
• 200-meter dash
• 4×100-meter relay
The Italian press dubbed her “La Gazzella Nera” (The Black Gazelle) for her fluid, graceful running style. She didn’t just win; she dominated, breaking world records and captivating a global audience.
Wilma’s impact didn’t stop at the finish line. When she returned to her hometown for her victory parade, she insisted that the event be integrated.
It became the first racially integrated event in the history of Clarksville, Tennessee.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
