Timeline of Wilma Rudolph
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Want a more compressed version of a biography for Wilma Rudolph? Look no further than this handy timeline, then, which chronicles the most important parts of Rudolph’s life.
June 23, 1940: Rudolph is born in Clarksville, Tennessee
1944: Rudolph is diagnosed with polio; she begins therapy to help her legs
1952: Rudolph begins to walk to help her legs adjust; her mother begins taking her to physical therapy to improve her walking; soon she’s able to move without being forced to wear special shoes
1956: After honing her skills (and legs) in high school, Rudolph earns a place on the U.S. Olympic Track team; she earns a bronze medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay
1960: Rudolph wins three gold medals and one bronze at the Summer Olympics in Rome; she comes to be known as “the fastest woman in history”
1963: Earns a full scholarship to Tennessee State University; also marries high school boyfriend Robert Elridge
1977: Rudolph publishes her autobiography; in the same year a televised version of her life is broadcast
1981: She establishes the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to assist young athletes
1994: Is diagnosed with throat cancer; dies soon after on November 12 at her home in Brentwood, Tennessee