How to Win Against all Odds - the Wilma Rudolph example

“My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.”  - Wilma Rudolph

Have you ever wondered what it might  feel like to achieve what people thought was impossible? One of the most celebrated female athletes of all times: Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an exceptional African American field and track champion. She was famous for overcoming incapacitating childhood illnesses to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics.

She was born prematurely on the 23rd June 1940 to the family of Ed and Blanche Rudolph. Wilma was the 20th of 22 children, she was born with polio and suffered serious pneumonia and scarlet fever as a young child. Consequently, she had problem with her leg that some said would prevent her from ever walking. But Wilma had a loving and devoted family who made sure she got medical attention and who provided physical therapy themselves four times a day. She wore a leg brace from the time she was five until she was 11 years old. Then, one Sunday, she removed it and walked down the aisle of her church.

When Wilma was 13, she got involved in organized sports at school, including basketball and track. Soon she was running and winning races. She was invited to a training camp at Tennessee State University by coach Ed Temple, who coached numerous track and field athletes and became Wilma's most important professional influence.

In 1956, when she was still a sophomore in high school, she participated in the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. She lost the 200 meter race, but her relay team took home the bronze medal. Wilma became more determined than ever. In 1958, she began college at Tennessee State University and became a member of Ed Temple's "Tigerbelles" track team.

 In 1960, she set a world record for the 200 meter dash during the Olympic trials. Then during the Olympic games in Rome, she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash and the 400 meter relay. She was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s.

She died on the 12th of November 1994, after losing her battle with brain cancer. Wilma is been celebrated for her inspirational determination, and courage to overcome her physical disabilities and to rise above the racism and segregation of her time.  She once stated:  “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose ... If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.”  

Rome 1960-RUDOLPH Wilma (USA) 1st ahead of HEINE Judith (EUA) 2nd.

Inspirations from the story:

• The circumstances of your birth is not the definition of your future - Going by her birth circumstances, she would have been best described as a sickly physically challenged (negro) girl. But she turned everything around with raw faith, and determination to become a Sports Hero. You can change your story. Regardless of what your story was; you can still attract the best to yourself and make a lasting impact in life. Decide to finish strong!

• Family is important - At some point in life, we all need the care and support of a loving family to do more and better in life.

• Winners don't Quit - You are not a failure until you stop trying to win. She won only a bronze medal in 1956, but she came back stronger and better four years later. If you can go beyond your limits you can also set your own rules.

• Disability is not Inability - There are lots of abilities in disability. Every man is born complete and has all it takes to succeed. She had polio; back then, it was a hard thing to cure. The doctors said that she would never walk again. She had two braces on her legs and walked with sticks, but she worked hard and one day in church she stood up and walked down the aisle. Rudolph Wilma proved that disability does not make anyone a liability, but irresponsibility does.

• Human beings are limitless; You can achieve anything you set you mind on, even when it is against the popular opinion. The only limitation you have is in your mind. You can conquer any challenge if you live your life as if the limitations of your abilities do not exist.

Source:Biography.com, myhero.com

Photo credit: Olympic.org