A very young denzel washington plays robert, wilmas love interest. Her takedown of the whitedominated womens movement of her era at the very end was the hardest part. Wilma unlimited how wilma rudolph became the worlds. At the 1960 olympic games in rome, wilma rudolph stunned the world by becoming the first woman to win three consecutive gold medals in track and field. Dec 11, 2015 wilma rudolph won 3 olympic gold medals and set 3 olympic records at rome 1960. As a 16yearold she went to the 1956 olympics and, although eliminated in the preliminaries of the 200 m, won a bronze medal in the relay. For more than two decades, wilma rudolph sought to impart the lessons she learned about amateur athletics to other young men and women. She was the twentieth of twentytwo children in a poor but loving african american family. The story of american track sprinter wilma rudolph, who overcame physical handicaps to win three gold medals in the 1960 olympics. Wilma rudolph is an inspirational person one who overcame polio, poverty, etc. She was the author of an autobiography, wilma, that was published in 1977and the subject of a television movie based on the book. Wilma had perseverance just like our character of the month perseverance pam. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else.
Wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american track and field sprinter, who. Wilma rudolph, american sprinter, the first american woman to win three trackandfield gold medals in a single olympics. Feb 24, 2012 i have been blessed with the honor of playing wilma rudolph, the first woman in the u. Wilma rudolph was the first of many great female american sprinters. Wilma 1977 cast and crew sprinter wilma rudolph shirley jo finney overcomes childhood illness to win three gold medals in the 1960 rome olympics. Full online access to this resource is only available at the library of congress. Format is designed to go with the online program pebblego but it may be used with other research resources. Wilma rudolph has polio in 1947, was a sickly child yet went on to become the fastest woman in the world winning 3. Wilma rudolph has polio in 1947, was a sickly child yet went on to become the fastest woman in the world winning 3 gold medals in the sprints in the 1960 olympics.
Wilma watchers in the late 1950s and early 60s were admonished. Wilma rudolph packed much into her fiftyfour years before she died of brain cancer in 1994. When she was in the eighth grade, wilma rudolphs sister made the track team at burt high school, but wilma didnt. When she was in the eighth grade, wilma rudolph s sister made the track team at burt high school, but wilma didnt. In november 1994, wilma died at her home in brentwood, tennessee from a brain tumor. With denzel washington, lynn whitfield, debra artis, edna auguillard. My kids love using pebblego to study historical figures. Born wilma glodean rudolph on june 23, 1940, in st. Despite being told as a child she would never walk again, wilma rudolph relentlessly pursued her dreams becoming an international track and field star. Get walmart hours, driving directions and check out weekly.
Wilma rudolph won three gold medals at the rome olympics of 1960, including the 100m which officially made her the fastest woman on earth. Wilma rudolph biography family, childhood, children. At those same olympic games, rafer johnson, winner of a silver. Her lifes a sprint, legacy long running chicago tribune.
Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for. With shirley jo finney, cicely tyson, jason bernard, joe seneca. Wilma glodean rudolph 19401994 find a grave memorial. Rudolphs father had 11 children from a first marriage and 8 children from a second marriage. Jan 14, 2020 later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics. As a young child she was paralysed by polio, and contracted both scarlet fever and double pneumonia. One of wilmas admirers referred to her as an inspiration.
She was the author of an autobiography, wilma, which was published in 1977and the subject of a television movie based on her book. Rudolphs chatty, conversational voice was the best part. Like other poor people of that era, wilma rudolph s home had an outhouse. But the most amazing part of this true story is that wilma shirley jo finney was afflicted by polio, a disease she conquered on her way to becoming one of americas greatest athletes. This biopic chronicles the courage of africanamerican athlete wilma rudolph, who overcame crippling polio to win three gold medals in track during the 1960 olympics in rome. As we countdown to rio 2016, were taking a look back at 31 iconic moments from olympic history.
This wilma rudolph pebblego research hunt is a great resource for studying the life of wilma rudolph. Early life rudolph was born prematurely on june 23, 1940, in st. A very young denzel washington plays robert, wilma s love interest. Wilma unlimited how wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest. She did not place in the 200meter dash event, but she earned a bronze medal as part of the 400meter relay team. Wilma rudolph 19401994 became the first american woman runner to win three gold medals in the olympic games. Wilma rudolph, olympic star 6th8th printable main idea. Wilma rudolph, one of the most stylish olympic athletes of.
She was also the founder of the wilma rudolph foundation. See more ideas about wilma rudolph, track and field and women in history. At the height of her career, the fastest woman in the world used her platform to shed light on social issues. Wilma glodean rudolph was born on june 23, 1940 in saint bethlehem, tennessee.
Quite well acted includes cicely tyson after all and shirley jo finney at times looks so much like wilma rudolph that it was hard to. Feb 06, 2017 wilma had perseverance just like our character of the month perseverance pam. I have been blessed with the honor of playing wilma rudolph, the first woman in the u. Many doctors felt she would never walk again, yet she always believed otherwise. Wilma rudolph won 3 olympic gold medals and set 3 olympic records at rome 1960. Not exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but tells with admirable accuracy the amazing and inspiring story of wilma rudolph. As one of 22 children, she was constantly surrounded by support and care, which she needed given her poor health. Born in 1940 in tennessee, wilma rudolph was a child who overcame her disabilities through physical therapy and hard work, becoming a gifted runner. She lectured in every part of america and even served in 1991 as an.
Rudolph, wilma 19401994africanamerican sprinter who grew up with doctors debating whether or not she would ever walk unassisted and went on to become a legendary track star as the first american woman to win three gold medals in one olympics. Here at, we are committed to protecting your privacy. A bout of polio among other illnesses that affected her infancy, left her leg crooked and her feet twisted inward, resulting in her wearing braces for the most of her childhood. Wilma rudolph outran poverty, polio, scarlet fever and the limits placed on black women by societal convention to win three gold medals in sprint events at the 1960 olympics in rome. Wilma rudolf was born prematurely into a poor home in tennessee, usa and weighed only 4. Wilma rudolph 10 facts on the athlete who defied all odds. Wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american track and field sprinter, who competed in the 100 and 200 meters dash.
Held in rome, italy, the games were a milestone for her. The following year, wilma had a baby and many people thought she would never participate in track again, yet she went on to attend tennessee state university and joined the track team there. Nov 28, 20 perseverance wilma rudolph story wilma rudolph was born prematurely, the 20th of 22 children, and wasnt expected to live. Because she was born two months early, the doctor doubted she would live. Wilma rudolph olympic athletics united states of america.
Mini bio 1 wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american track and field sprinter, who competed in the 100 and 200 meters dash. Rudolph was sickly as a child and could not walk without an orthopedic shoe until she was 11 years old. Your email address will never be sold or distributed to a third party for any reason. By the time she was 12, she had regained her ability to walk and took up athletics. Wilma rudolph at rome 1960 epic olympic moments youtube. Rudolph later served as a track coach, an athletic consultant, and assistant director of athletics for the mayors youth foundation in chicago.
Her determination to compete, however, made her a star basketball player. She became the first american woman and first african american woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single olympic games in 1960. Wilma rudolph chats with president kennedy at the white. Wilma rudolph bio, stats, and results olympics at sports. Pauletta washington was born on september 28, 1950 in the usa as pauletta pearson. Later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics.
Wilma glodean rudolph june 23, 1940 november 12, 1994 was an american sprinter born in saint bethlehem, tennessee, who became a worldrecordholding olympic champion and international sports icon in track and field following her successes in the 1956 and 1960 olympic games. Find highquality wilma rudolph stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Wilma rudolph was an american olympic sprinter from clarksville, tennessee. Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and competed in two olympic games, in 1956 and in 1960. Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for kids. In the 1960 summer olympics in rome, rudolph became the first american woman to. Wilma rudolph made history in the 1960 summer olympic games in rome, italy, when she became the first american woman to win three gold medals in the track and field competition.