Despite suffering from a crippled leg as a child, Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) conquered her handicap and rose to greatness. She became a natural athlete, playing basketball until her talents as a track star were discovered. She joined the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team at age 16, winning a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay in the 1956 Olympic Games. In 1960, Wilma became the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. She broke numerous records and was hailed as “the fastest woman in the world”. She was inducted into the Black Athlete’s Hall of Fame in 1974 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
