#LeadershipTuesdays: I Can...Wilma Rudolph (2497 hits)
"When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome."
Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994), US Olympic-winning Athlete
Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Wilma Rudolph was a gold medal-winning athlete for the United States in Track and Field. In the 1960's she was considered the fastest woman in the world. But, if you know her story, you know that she overcame great odds to become one of the greatest athletes of all times.
Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely and at the age of four she contracted polio which left her paralyzed for a time. She eventually walked on her own, but she had to wear a brace. In her tween years, she shed her brace and became active in basketball and track. Defying the early prognosis of her doctors, Wilma Rudolph became a world class athlete in Track and Field winning a bronze medal for the 4x100 relay in 1956 and two gold medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash in the 1960 Olympics. As the quote above reflects, Wilma...