Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee (June 23, 1940- November 12, 1994) age 54 yrs

Few people would have expected that a child who suffered from polio and wore leg braces for several years. Yet, that same child would one day be proclaimed “the world’s fastest woman.” But that’s the story of Wilma Rudolph. At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, she achieved remarkable success. She won three gold medals in sprint events. The events were the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4-x-100-meter relay. Rudolph also won a bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. She won several awards and was inducted into the Black Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. After retiring from competition, Rudolph worked as a teacher, track coach, and sports broadcaster. She also served in several government programs helping underprivileged youth. She founded the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to promote community-based, youth-oriented athletic and academic programs. In her honor, the Women’s Sports Foundation annually presents the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award to a female athlete who exhibits fortitude, perseverance, self-sacrifice, and inspiration