As a child, Wilma Rudolph overcame polio to become an Olympic sprint champion. This made her an American icon and a role model.

Childhood illnesses

Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. As a young child she was paralysed by polio, and contracted both scarlet fever and double pneumonia. Many doctors felt she would never walk again, yet she always believed otherwise. By the time she was 12, she had regained her ability to walk and took up athletics. Eight years later she was an Olympic champion.

Olympic debut

Rudolph made her Olympic debut at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Aged just 16, she was amember of the American 4x100m relay team that claimed a bronze medal.

Glory in Rome

The 1960 Rome Games provided the defining moments of Rudolph’s extraordinary life story. She stormed to gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, breaking three world records in the process. She was dubbed “The Black Gazelle” by the European press for her speed, beauty and grace.

Retirement

Her brilliant career ended with her retirement in 1962, after which she devoted herself to coaching and worked extensively with underprivileged children. Tragically, Rudolph died from a brain tumour at the age of 54.

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American sprinter who overcame childhood polio and went on to become a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. Wikipedia

Born: 23 June 1940, Saint Bethlehem, Clarksville, Tennessee, United States

Died: 12 November 1994 (age 54 years), Brentwood, Tennessee, United States

Medals: Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Women’s 100 metres · See more

Parents: Blanche Rudolph, Ed Rudolph

Children: Djuanna Eldridge, Yolanda Eldridge, Xurry Eldridge, Robert Eldridge Jr.

Siblings: Charlene Rudolph

Spouse: Robert Eldridge (m. 1963–1980), William Ward (m. 1961–1963)