Wilma Rudolph 1940 1994 Wilma Rudolph was born

Wilma Rudolph (1940 -1994) Wilma Rudolph was born in Clarksville, Tennessee on June 23, 1940. She was born into a family of a mom, Dad and 19 brothers and sisters. Wilma was born with a poor immune system. In 1944 when she was 4 years old she contracted polio. The polio did not kill her, but it made her left leg paralyzed After she got polio her parents had 2 more children, now making it 22 brothers and sisters. When Wilma got polio, Wilma and her mother would get on a bus to go to a hospital that would treat black people 50 miles away twice a week every week. After 4 years of therapy Wilma could walk with a brace. By the she turned 12 she could walk partly with out a brace. Every one was amazed when they saw Wilma, the girl that would never walk again. After 5 more months of therapy Wilma no longer needed a brace. After years of sitting on the sidelines Wilma finely could play basketball.

In 1953 she went to high school. In 1954 Wilma joined her school basketball team and became a star. In 1956 she entered Tennessee University on a full scholarship. She also joined her college track team. In November of 1956 Wilma won a bronze medal trying to follow hero Jessie Owens.

In July of 1958 Wilma gave birth to her first child Yolanda Rudolph. In the 1960 Olympics Wilma won three gold medals. One for the 100 and 200 meter dash and the USA track team. In 1962 Wilma won the Babe Zaharias award for best athlete in the world.

In 1963 Wilma was one of the million of people to see Martin Luther King JR. say his I have a dream speech. In 1977 Wilma got her autobiography called Wilma. In 1981 Wilma started the Wilma Rudolph Foundation for Young Athletes. After 1981 Wilma had a normal life raising her child Yolanda. Sadly Wilma died at a young age. 1994 Wilma was 54 years old when she died from a brain tumor. Wilma had a happy, successful, inspiring and persevering life. May she rest in peace.