The Life of Wilma Rudolph Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Life of Wilma Rudolph - Term Paper Example In 1952, Wilma who had contracted poliomyelitis eventually recovered from the debilitating virus. Poliomyelitis was subsequently eliminated from the United States when Dr. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in 1955 (Smith 2). Wilma started wearing a steel brace on her left leg when she was five. She felt psychologically devastated wearing the brace. At age six, her mother noticed that home exercises were not improving her mobility; thus, she took Wilma to Meharry Hospital, the Black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. In Meharry Hospital, Wilma received heat, water, and massage treatments, supplemented by an exercise routine at home. Two years later, with the help of a metal leg brace, Wilma was able to walk again. Remarkably by age 12, Wilma no longer needed the aid of crutches, brace, or any corrective shoes in walking. The childhood illnesses made it impossible for Wilma to study. Therefore, her mother tutored her at home with basic academic fundamentals.   Howeve r, she felt the need to conquer physical restrictions and enrolled in the local, segregated Burt High School. It was there she discovered her athletic abilities, following the example of her older sister who was a member of the basketball team. Edward Temple, a renowned track coach of Tennessee State University, noticed Wilma and asked her to attend the university’s summer sports camp. Without hesitation, she accepted the offer and Wilma started to make her mark on the basketball court and the track (Smith 13). Wilma practiced with the Tennessee State University team and attended Temple’s daily college practices while still a student at Burt.   Eventually, she entered Tennessee State University as a full-time scholarship student. During the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Wilma, who was only 16 then, received her first bronze medal as a member of the 4 X 100 relay team.   In 1960 Olympics, in Rome, she won in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and together wit h her team; they beat the Germans in the 4 X 100 relay. Consequently, she became the first American woman to be a recipient of three gold medals in the international meeting (Smith 55). The 1960 Olympic Games were the first to be televised and Wilma’s victories and inspirational story of overcoming the physical and societal barriers inspired and encourage a lot of people, particularly women who exhibited increasing interests in the track and field event (Smith 55).