Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics.
As I write blog posts about famous athletes, I learn so much about iconic people I hadn’t even known existed.
Researching Rudolph made me feel excited and motivated; not only did she make history, but she did it as one of the most vulnerable persons during the 1960s: a strong Black woman.
Rudolph wore a brace on her left leg as a child, but overcame her disability to compete in the 1959 Summer Olympic Games.
She became the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics.
Rudolph holds the record for running 100 meters at 11.2 seconds and 200 meters at 22.9 seconds.
Additionally, Rudolph used her national recognition to be a voice for people of color; specifically, Black women.
She broke the blatant gender barrier of all-male events, her legacy still living on today.
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