Wilma's Story

Students in Tennessee can win a special award. Award winners are children who have not let problems keep them from success in sports or in the classroom.

The award is called the Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award. The award honors children who overcome a lot of problems to succeed.

A Little Girl in a Big Family

Wilma Rudolph was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1940. She was born into a very large African American family. She was the twentieth child in her family! Two more children came after her.

Wilma got sick when she was very young. She got a disease called polio. Polio weakens leg muscles. Many children who had polio could not walk. People said Wilma might never walk.

Wilma Walks

Wilma never gave up. She walked until her legs got strong. She finally could walk like other children by the time she was 12.

Then Wilma began running and playing sports. She played basketball in high school. She was good.

Wilma Runs

She ran track, too. Wilma ran fast. Very fast! Wilma won so many races that she became a track star.

In 1956, Wilma ran in the Olympics. She was just 16. She won a medal. In 1960 she went to the Olympics again. She won three gold medals!

Helping Others

Wilma became a teacher and a coach. She wanted to help people do their best in school and in sports.

Many people heard Wilma's story. Her story gave them hope. Wilma died in 1994. But her story lives on. She is honored on a postage stamp.

People will always remember the girl who did not give up. Her award honors children today who do not give up.