Wilma Rudolph: From Polio to Olympic Gold

Wilma Rudolph has been a champion since birth. Born prematurely on June 23, 1940 in Saint Bethlehem, TN (now Clarksville), Wilma contracted pneumonia, scarlet fever and infantile paralysis (due to the poliovirus) all by the age of 5. Due to the polio, Wilma’s left leg and foot lost strength.

During her childhood, she received medical treatments at Meharry Medical College to regain use of her leg and foot. Wilma and her mother made weekly bus trips from Clarksville to Nashville (50 miles one-way) for these medical treatments. Her family continued her physical therapy daily at home. By the age of 12, Wilma no longer needed the support of a leg brace or an orthopedic shoe. 

At Clarksville’s all-black Burt High School, Wilma excelled in basketball and track. While playing basketball, Wilma was scouted by Ed Temple, Tennessee State University’s track and field coach. Wilma went on to compete in amateur track events. At 16 years old and a junior in high school, Wilma attended the US Olympic team trials and qualified to compete in the 200-meter event at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. With three other TSU Tigerbelles, Wilma won the bronze in the 4x100-meter relay. 

Continuing her education at TSU, Wilma again competed at the 1960 Olympic trials, where she set a world record for the 200-meter dash. In Rome, Italy, she made herstory - Wilma became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympiad (100- and 200-meter sprint and 4x100-meter relay). It was here that Wilma was declared “the fastest woman in history”. 

At Wilma’s insistence, her hometown celebration on October 4, 1960 was the first fully integrated municipal event in Clarksville history. Wilma retired from track and field at age 22 because she wanted to leave the sport while at her peak.