Wilma Rudolph

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olympic medalist
Wilma Rudolph
Medal record
Women's athletics
Gold	1960 Rome	100 m
Gold	1960 Rome	200 m
Gold	1960 Rome	4 x 100 m relay
Bronze	1956 Melbourne	4 x 100 m relay

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. 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.

After her athletic career, Rudolph worked as a teacher, track coach, and sports commentator. She married Robert Eldridge in 1963 and had four children: Yolanda (1958), Djuanna (1964), Robert Jr. (1965) and Xurry (1971). They later divorced.

At age 54, Wilma Rudolph died in her home in Brentwood, Tennessee of brain cancer.

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

External links

• Biography from "Women in History"

Olympic champions in women's 100 m

Betty Robinson | Stanisława Walasiewicz | Helen Stephens | 1948: Fanny Blankers-Koen | 1952: Marjorie Jackson | 1956: Betty Cuthbert | 1960: Wilma Rudolph | 1964: Wyomia Tyus | 1968: Wyomia Tyus | 1972: Renate Stecher | 1976: Annegret Richter | 1980: Lyudmila Kondratyeva | 1984: Evelyn Ashford | 1988: Florence Griffith-Joyner | 1992: Gail Devers | 1996: Gail Devers | 2000: Marion Jones | 2004: Yulia Nestsiarenka

Olympic champions in women's 200 m
1948: Fanny Blankers-Koen | 1952: Marjorie Jackson | 1956: Betty Cuthbert | 1960: Wilma Rudolph | 1964: Edith McGuire | 1968: Irena Szewińska | 1972: Renate Stecher | 1976: Bärbel Eckert | 1980: Bärbel Eckert | 1984: Valerie Brisco-Hooks | 1988: Florence Griffith-Joyner | 1992 Gwen Torrence | 1996: Marie-José Pérec | 2000: Marion Jones | 2004: Veronica Campbell