Passage III

A Tennessee Tigerbelle

[1]

These days, with athletes winning up to eight gold medals in one year's Olympic games; it's easy to forget that at one time winning multiple gold medals were rare. One of the first U.S. Olympic athletes to accomplish this was a young African American sprinter from Tennessee. Wilma Rudolph was the first U.S. woman to win three gold medals, placing first in the 100-and 200-meter dashes and anchoring her team to victory in the 4 × 100-meter relay.

[2]

Born in 1940 near Clarksville, Tennessee, Rudolph was diagnosed with polio at an early age. Her family was determined to help her fight this disease, which causes motor paralysis and often leads to permanent physical disabilities. Every week, her family took her to Nashville for heat and water therapy. They also massaged her affected leg daily and helped her with physical therapy. Largely as a result, Rudolph no longer needed her: crutches, metal brace, or corrective shoes by the time she was a teenager.

[3]

Her athletic career began when she joined the junior high basketball team. They weren't her basketball skills, therefore, that would impress one of the country's best coaches. During her sophomore year, Ed Temple, Tennessee State University's track coach, noticed that RudoIph might possibly have some ability maybe as a sprinter. Temple was aware that her high school didn't have a track team, Temple invited Rudolph to attend a summer sports camp at the university.

[4]

Determined, Rudolph vowed to have even greater success in the next Olympics. Her family encouraged her aspirations, as did Coach Temple. With their support, Rudolph attended college on a track scholarship and competed for the famous Tennessee State Tigerbelles track team then she moved on to win her three gold medals for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team.

[5]

It quickly became clear that there would be no stopping Rudolph. In 1956, Rudolph, then just a high school junior, qualified to participate in the Olympic trials. She made the Olympic team, and in Melbourne, Australia. She ran with the 4 × 100-meter relay team that won a bronze medal.