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 …

Apr 10, 2024 · In 1960, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics.

Jan 27, 2025 · Wilma Rudolph (born June 23, 1940, St. Bethlehem, near Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.—died November 12, 1994, Brentwood, Tennessee) was an American sprinter, the first American woman to win three track-and-field gold medals in a single Olympics.

Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at the same Olympic game. Her performance also earned her the title of “the fastest woman in the world.” Returning home an Olympic champion Rudolph refused to attend her homecoming parade if it was not integrated.

Jan 8, 2021 · Born prematurely on June 23, 1940, Rudolph only weighed 4.5 pounds at birth, causing her to spend much of her early years in bed. Eventually, she lost use of her left leg and...

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.

In a sport where tales of triumph over adversity are not uncommon, Wilma Rudolph’s journey to sporting stardom stands out as one of the most astonishing. In fact, her life story is reflected in her racing style: a sluggish start before finding her stride and then running into the record books.

At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals (in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays), earning the title of the “fastest women in the world.”Winner of seven National AAU sprint titles, she received the 1961 Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete as well as the Associated Press Female ...

Jun 23, 2024 · Wilma Glodean Rudolph, an American sprinter born on 23 June 1940 in Tennessee, remains one of the most inspiring figures in the history of athletics.

Nov 12, 1994 · Wilma Rudolph was the first US woman to win the Olympic sprint double, adding gold in the 4x100 relay. As the 17th child in a family of 18, she contracted polio as an infant and was unable to walk properly until she was 11.