Tennessee is a U.S. State located in the South-eastern United States, there lived an African-American family poor family and they had a small girl child. She was born prematurely, weighing only 4.5 pounds and the doctor doubted she would survive. When the child was at age four, she had double pneumonia with scarlet fever, a deadly combination which later converted to Polio. She had to wear a metal brace so it was very difficult for her to even stand, and parents used to leave her at home when going for job.
When she was left alone at home, she used to try to walk holding the rods of windows, but it was very difficult as her legs were too weak to apply load on ground. She used to fall. She never left her try. It became her routine, getting up early in morning, wait till parents leave for job, walk holding the window. Finally after 7 months, she achieved her target, she walking well using support of windows. She never told her parents about it. After few weeks of this routine she decided to walk without calipers. Will that be possible for a polio affected 7 year girl?? As usual, she fell many times and screamed as it used to pain a lot after falling, but her mind used to push her to try, after much struggle for a year she cleared her second goal of walking without calipers. She showed her parents about her success, all were astonished. Same day she told his father that she want to join school, father agreed happily.
In school seeing all children joining sports, she too thought of joining any sports. Even though she learnt walking, her legs were not so cooperative to play sports. But she decided to join athletics, everyone suggested that to switch her choice and suggested her to play indoor games, but her father said, “Let her try”.
She started to run at age of 10 and participated in many running competition and used to finish last in all races, but she never left participating. This continued. Once she completed at 4th place, that was a happy moment for her and her family. In her next attempt she finished 2nd, and the day was not too far she ended as winner in her next race. Seeing her will, her trainee advised her father to send her to Tennessee State University.
She joined Tennessee State University at the age of 15, where she met a coach by the name of Ed Temple. She told him, “I want to be the fastest woman on the track on this earth.”
Temple said, “With your spirit nobody can stop you and besides, I will help you.”
With her repeated efforts she got Olympics chance, but family situation is poor so that they cannot afford her suit, shoe etc.. She sought help from everyone, finally got a track suit which was worn and used many times.
Her first event was 100 meter running, one of her opponent was Jutta Heine, Jutta Heine was never beaten by any runner till that day. This poor black girl did that, not only winning against world’s famous runner, but also created a world record.
On the same day she won gold medal for 200 Mts dash beating Jutta for second time. The next day she was about to take part in 100*4 relay, but as she was 100 Mts runner, she was asked to run at end.
The game started, first girl handed over stick (baton) to next runner as 3rd lady, and the next runner too ended as 3rd, even though the next girl ran well and finished 2nd but slipped her hand while giving stick, stick fell down. Crowd were in anger, the cloud of sadness covered across the fans as Jutta was leading at first, but it cleared in a fraction of seconds when this poor black girl ran like as if she is running at speed of light, yes she ended with her 3rd gold…
She became first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics; she is also called “the fastest woman in the world.”
Her name is… Wilma Rudolph
She also did a lot to help young athletes succeed by setting up a training institute, one of them was another African American runner, Florence Griffith Joyner. In 1980, Griffith Joyner became the second American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics.
She died at the age of 54 by brain cancer, Today America remember her as
“The Black Pearl,” and “The Black Gazelle“..
Dear friends! Story of A Black Pearl Wilma is a great inspiration for all of us, we are comparatively are healthy and wealthy in our life.
“Failing is not when you fall, but it’s when you fail to get up”….
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This article is a tribute to a great woman, not only respected in America but also through out the world as an example of Inspiration, Determination, Perseverance, born achiever and a fighter. Indeed a great narrative.
Very inspiring life,very dedicated life to her commitments.Should inspire everybody.A good narrative by the author,thanks for onfolding such an illustrious event.