But the most amazing part of this true story is that wilma shirley jo finney was afflicted by polio, a disease she conquered on her way to becoming one of americas greatest athletes. Wilma rudolph won three gold medals at the rome olympics of 1960, including the 100m which officially made her the fastest woman on earth. Your email address will never be sold or distributed to a third party for any reason. She was also the founder of the wilma rudolph foundation. Wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american sprinter born in saint bethlehem, tennessee, who became a worldrecordholding olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 olympic games. As the 17th child in a family of 18, she contracted polio as an infant and was unable to walk properly until she was 11. In the 1960 summer olympics in rome, rudolph became the first american woman to. Born in 1940 in tennessee, wilma rudolph was a child who overcame her disabilities through physical therapy and hard work, becoming a gifted runner. Wilma rudolf was born prematurely into a poor home in tennessee, usa and weighed only 4. Wilma rudolph packed much into her fiftyfour years before she died of brain cancer in 1994. At the height of her career, the fastest woman in the world used her platform to shed light on social issues. See more ideas about wilma rudolph, track and field and women in history. Despite being told as a child she would never walk again, wilma rudolph relentlessly pursued her dreams becoming an international track and field star.
Not exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but tells with admirable accuracy the amazing and inspiring story of wilma rudolph. She was the author of an autobiography, wilma, which was published in 1977and the subject of a television movie based on her book. Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and competed in two olympic games, in 1956 and in 1960. Rudolph, wilma 19401994africanamerican sprinter who grew up with doctors debating whether or not she would ever walk unassisted and went on to become a legendary track star as the first american woman to win three gold medals in one olympics. She was the author of an autobiography, wilma, that was published in 1977and the subject of a television movie based on the book. Wilma rudolph was an american olympic sprinter from clarksville, tennessee. Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for kids. Wilma rudolph olympic athletics united states of america. She did not place in the 200meter dash event, but she earned a bronze medal as part of the 400meter relay team. Rudolphs father had 11 children from a first marriage and 8 children from a second marriage. I have been blessed with the honor of playing wilma rudolph, the first woman in the u. Here at, we are committed to protecting your privacy.
Her lifes a sprint, legacy long running chicago tribune. Wilma unlimited how wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest. Like other poor people of that era, wilma rudolph s home had an outhouse. Held in rome, italy, the games were a milestone for her. Dec 11, 2015 wilma rudolph won 3 olympic gold medals and set 3 olympic records at rome 1960. Wilma rudolph made history in the 1960 summer olympic games in rome, italy, when she became the first american woman to win three gold medals in the track and field competition. She lectured in every part of america and even served in 1991 as an. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Born wilma glodean rudolph on june 23, 1940, in st. As we countdown to rio 2016, were taking a look back at 31 iconic moments from olympic history. Format is designed to go with the online program pebblego but it may be used with other research resources.
Wilma rudolph, american sprinter, the first american woman to win three trackandfield gold medals in a single olympics. Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for. Nov 28, 20 perseverance wilma rudolph story wilma rudolph was born prematurely, the 20th of 22 children, and wasnt expected to live. Quite well acted includes cicely tyson after all and shirley jo finney at times looks so much like wilma rudolph that it was hard to.
Her takedown of the whitedominated womens movement of her era at the very end was the hardest part. Wilma rudolph, olympic star 6th8th printable main idea. Wilma had perseverance just like our character of the month perseverance pam. Wilma rudolph at rome 1960 epic olympic moments youtube.
Wilma rudolph has polio in 1947, was a sickly child yet went on to become the fastest woman in the world winning 3 gold medals in the sprints in the 1960 olympics. Wilma watchers in the late 1950s and early 60s were admonished. At those same olympic games, rafer johnson, winner of a silver. This wilma rudolph pebblego research hunt is a great resource for studying the life of wilma rudolph. This biopic chronicles the courage of africanamerican athlete wilma rudolph, who overcame crippling polio to win three gold medals in track during the 1960 olympics in rome. Wilma rudolph chats with president kennedy at the white.
When she was in the eighth grade, wilma rudolph s sister made the track team at burt high school, but wilma didnt. Wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american track and field sprinter, who. Wilma rudolph bio, stats, and results olympics at sports. Mini bio 1 wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american track and field sprinter, who competed in the 100 and 200 meters dash. The following year, wilma had a baby and many people thought she would never participate in track again, yet she went on to attend tennessee state university and joined the track team there. Wilma glodean rudolph 19401994 find a grave memorial. Rudolph later served as a track coach, an athletic consultant, and assistant director of athletics for the mayors youth foundation in chicago. Early life rudolph was born prematurely on june 23, 1940, in st. Wilma rudolph, one of the most stylish olympic athletes of. Get walmart hours, driving directions and check out weekly. A very young denzel washington plays robert, wilma s love interest. Wilma 1977 cast and crew sprinter wilma rudolph shirley jo finney overcomes childhood illness to win three gold medals in the 1960 rome olympics. Wilma rudolph was the first of many great female american sprinters.
Wilma rudolph 19401994 became the first american woman runner to win three gold medals in the olympic games. Wilma glodean rudolph was born on june 23, 1940 in saint bethlehem, tennessee. A bout of polio among other illnesses that affected her infancy, left her leg crooked and her feet twisted inward, resulting in her wearing braces for the most of her childhood. Pauletta washington was born on september 28, 1950 in the usa as pauletta pearson. Jan 14, 2020 later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics.
The story of american track sprinter wilma rudolph, who overcame physical handicaps to win three gold medals in the 1960 olympics. As one of 22 children, she was constantly surrounded by support and care, which she needed given her poor health. By the time she was 12, she had regained her ability to walk and took up athletics. She was the twentieth of twentytwo children in a poor but loving african american family.
As a young child she was paralysed by polio, and contracted both scarlet fever and double pneumonia. A very young denzel washington plays robert, wilmas love interest. One of wilmas admirers referred to her as an inspiration. Later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics. In november 1994, wilma died at her home in brentwood, tennessee from a brain tumor. When she was in the eighth grade, wilma rudolphs sister made the track team at burt high school, but wilma didnt. With shirley jo finney, cicely tyson, jason bernard, joe seneca. Feb 06, 2017 wilma had perseverance just like our character of the month perseverance pam.
At the 1960 olympic games in rome, wilma rudolph stunned the world by becoming the first woman to win three consecutive gold medals in track and field. Many doctors felt she would never walk again, yet she always believed otherwise. My kids love using pebblego to study historical figures. Rudolphs chatty, conversational voice was the best part. Rudolph was sickly as a child and could not walk without an orthopedic shoe until she was 11 years old. Feb 24, 2012 i have been blessed with the honor of playing wilma rudolph, the first woman in the u. Wilma rudolph biography family, childhood, children.
Wilma rudolph is an inspirational person one who overcame polio, poverty, etc. Wilma rudolph outran poverty, polio, scarlet fever and the limits placed on black women by societal convention to win three gold medals in sprint events at the 1960 olympics in rome. For more than two decades, wilma rudolph sought to impart the lessons she learned about amateur athletics to other young men and women. Wilma rudolph has polio in 1947, was a sickly child yet went on to become the fastest woman in the world winning 3.
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