Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. She was born
prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years
old, she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left
her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg
brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13
she had developed rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a
miracle.
That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race
and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered,
she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on
running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From
then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little
girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win three
Olympic gold medals.
