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Wilma Glodean Rudolph (June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994) 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.
Jun 19, 2024 · Wilma Rudolph, American sprinter, the first American woman to win three track-and-field gold medals in a single Olympics. Her victories were in the 100-meter dash, in the 200-meter dash, and as a member of the 4 × 100-meter relay team.
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...
Despite being told as a child she would never walk again, Wilma Rudolph relentlessly pursued her dreams becoming an international track and field star. At the height of her career, “the fastest woman in the world” used her platform to shed light on social issues.
Who Is Wilma Rudolph? Born on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee, Wilma Rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a brace on her left leg. She overcame her disabilities to compete in the 1956 Summer Olympic Games, and in 1960, she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph in the 4x100m at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. She capped her Rome campaign by taking a third gold medal in the 4x100m, having clocked a world record of 44.4 in the heats. Not only did she cement her status as the fastest woman in the world, she also became the first US woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
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.
