Inspiring Story Of Athlete Wilma Rudolph Who Was Once Told She Would Never Walk Again

We bring to you the unbelievable story of Wilma Rudolph. An Olympic gold medalist, an athlete, and a woman par excellence. Her story begins with premature birth, multiple diseases in childhood, and a disabled left leg due to polio. She was once told by the doctors that she would never be able to walk again. But destiny had something else in store. Or maybe it was the unrelenting faith of her mother that her daughter would walk and run like other children that the gods had to re-write Wilma’s fate.

Early Life Of Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee. She was the 20th of the 22nd child in her family. Wilma suffered from pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio growing up. She recovered from the first two, but polio lingered. Wilma and her mother took a 100-mile round trip daily to cure her leg. She was helped and cared for by her entire family. Everyone took turns providing Wilma with at-home massages, which were to be done four times a day. With the consistent efforts of her family and her strong will, the impossible happened: Wilma started walking.

She was 8 years old when she took her first steps with the help of a leg brace. After four years, Wilma didn’t need leg support to walk. She also started playing for her school’s basketball team. It took her three more years to fully recover from the incapacitating effects of polio.

The girl who was once told she would never walk again was spotted by Tennessee State University’s track coach, Ed Temple. Under the guidance of Ed Temple, Wilma went on to become a shining running star.

A Star Was Born

After one year of intensive training, Wilma qualified for the U.S. Olympic track and field team trials and, eventually, the Olympics itself.

In 1960, history was created when Wilma Rudolf became the first woman to ever win three gold medals in a single Olympics. She won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. She set a world record in the 4x100m relay and an Olympic record in the 200m.

Soon, Wilma became a household name and a role model for athletes around the world. When asked how she achieved such heights in spite of all the odds, Wilma said, “I believed my mother’s words that I could run.”

Wilma died a few days after her mother’s death. However, the mother-daughter duo is still remembered for their combined grit and determination and for achieving the unthinkable. They gave the world its fastest runner and an inspiring story of “nothing is impossible”.

The legacy of Wilma Rudolph as a pioneer, a game-changer, and a believer lives on.

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