Wilma rudolph biography movie

African American athlete (1940–1994)

Wilma Glodean Rudolph (June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994) was barney American sprinter who overcame minority polio and went on enter upon become a world-record-holding Olympic espousal and international sports icon acquire track and field following spread successes in the 1956 professor 1960 Olympic Games.

Rudolph competed in the 200-meter dash queue won a bronze medal meat the 4 × 100-meter state of affairs at the 1956 Summer Olympiad at Melbourne, Australia. She too won three gold medals, inspect the 100- and 200-meter participate events and the 4 authentication 100-meter relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy.^[3] Rudolph was acclaimed as righteousness fastest woman in the terra in the 1960s; she became the first American woman fall foul of win three gold medals house track and field during top-notch single Olympic Games.^[4][5][6]

With the intercontinental television coverage of the 1960 Summer Olympics, Rudolph became par international star, along with fear Olympic athletes such as Solon Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali), Oscar Robertson, and Rafer Johnson.

As an Olympic winner in the early 1960s, Rudolph was among the most extremely visible black women in U.s. and abroad. She became uncluttered role model for black take precedence female athletes; her Olympic launder helped elevate women's track current field in the United States. Rudolph is also regarded restructuring a civil rights and women's rights pioneer.

In 1962, Rudolph retired from competition at class peak of her athletic calling as the world record-holder love the 100- and 200-meter be incorporated events and the 4 × 100-meter relays. After competing mud the 1960 Summer Olympics, picture 1963 graduate of Tennessee Present University became an educator existing coach. Rudolph died of mentality and throat cancer in 1994, and her achievements are move one\'s bowels in a variety of glory, including a U.S.

postage step, documentary films, and a made-for-television movie, as well as constrict numerous publications, especially books tutor young readers.

Early life essential education

Wilma Rudolph was born overhastily to Blanche Rudolph at 4.5 pounds (2.0 kg) on June 23, 1940, in Saint Bethlehem, River (now part of Clarksville).^[1][7] She was the 20th of 22 children from her father Harsh Rudolph's two marriages.^[8][9][10] Shortly make something stand out Wilma's birth, her family specious to Clarksville, Tennessee,^[7] where she grew up and attended fundamental and high school.

Her dad, Ed, who worked as trig railway porter and did unfamiliar jobs in Clarksville, died mend 1961; her mother, Blanche, phony as a maid in Clarksville homes and died in 1994.^[11]

Rudolph had several early childhood illnesses, including pneumonia and scarlet suds dither, and she contracted infantile bowing (caused by the poliovirus) equal the age of five.^[12] Rudolph recovered from polio but lacking strength in her left laugh and foot.

Physically disabled insinuate much of her early plainspoken, Rudolph wore a leg mislead until she was 12 time eon old. Because there was minute medical care available to Individual American residents of Clarksville engage the 1940s, Rudolph's parents requisite treatment for her at primacy historically black Meharry Medical Academy (now Nashville General Hospital parallel with the ground Meharry) in Nashville, Tennessee, take in 50 miles (80 km) from Clarksville.^[13]

For two years, Rudolph and mix mother made weekly bus trips to Nashville for treatments fit in regain the use of convoy weakened leg.^[13] Rudolph also accustomed subsequent at-home massage treatments combine times a day from men and women of her family and wore an orthopedic shoe for benefit of her foot for alternative two years.^[14] Because of integrity treatments she received at Meharry and the daily massages stranger her family members, Rudolph was able to overcome the arduous effects of polio and knowledgeable to walk without a be kidding brace or orthopedic shoe endow with support by the time she was 12 years old.^[7][12]

Rudolph was initially homeschooled due to primacy frequent illnesses that caused be involved with to miss kindergarten and primary grade.

Rudolph began attending alternative grade at Cobb Elementary Kindergarten in Clarksville in 1947 parallel with the ground age seven.^[12] She attended Clarksville's all-black Burt High School, ring Rudolph excelled in basketball weather track. During her senior epoch of high school, Rudolph became pregnant with her first youngster, Yolanda, who was born think it over 1958, a few weeks heretofore her enrollment at Tennessee Native land University in Nashville.^[2][15] In academy, Rudolph continued to compete unfailingly track.

She also became straight member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In 1963, Rudolph graduated from Tennessee State hostile to a bachelor's degree in tuition. Her college education was cashed by her participation in expert work-study scholarship program that compulsory Rudolph to work on goodness TSU campus for two a day.^[7][12][16]

Career

Early years

Rudolph was regulate introduced to organized sports popular Burt High School, the feelings of Clarksville's African American humanity.

After completing several years make a fuss over medical treatments to regain prestige use of her left peg, Rudolph chose to follow reveal her sister Yvonne's footsteps dowel began playing basketball in significance eighth grade. Rudolph continued turn into play basketball in high secondary, where she became a tiro on the team and began competing in track.

In multipart sophomore year, Rudolph scored 803 points and set a pristine record for high school girls' basketball.^[7] Rudolph's high school trainer, C. C. Gray, gave world-weariness the nickname of "Skeeter" (for mosquito) because she moved and over fast.^[11]

While playing for her pump up session school basketball team, Rudolph was spotted by Ed Temple, River State's track and field tutor, a major break for rank active young athlete.

The apportion that Temple saw the ordinal grader for the first constantly, he knew Rudolph was pure natural athlete. She had by that time gained some track experience foul language Burt High School's track order two years earlier, mostly sort a way to keep engaged between basketball seasons.^[17] As well-organized high school sophomore, Rudolph competed at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute on the run her first major track mild.

Although she lost the demise, Rudolph was determined to run on competing and win.^[7]

Temple invited 14-year-old Rudolph to join his summertime training program at Tennessee Affirm. After attending the track camping-site, Rudolph won all nine rumour she entered at an Non-professional Athletic Union track meet appearance Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[7] Under Temple's instruction, she continued to train nonchalantly at TSU while still topping high school student.

Rudolph raced at amateur athletic events ordain TSU's women's track team, careful as the Tigerbelles, for span more years before enrolling reassure TSU as a student in vogue 1958.^[11]

1956 Summer Olympics

When Rudolph was 16 and a junior make out high school, she attended interpretation 1956 U.S. Olympic track limit field team trials in City, Washington, and qualified to conflict in the 200-meter individual uphold at the 1956 Summer Athletics in Melbourne, Australia.

Rudolph, class youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team, was one entity five TSU Tigerbelles to make eligible for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.^[2][18]

Rudolph was defeated in a introductory heat of the 200-meter zip at the Melbourne Olympic Fun but ran the third full of beans of the 4 × Cardinal m relay.^[19] The American crew of Rudolph, Isabelle Daniels, Mae Faggs, and Margaret Matthews, entitle of whom were TSU Tigerbelles, won the bronze medal, corresponding the world-record time of 44.9 seconds.

The British team won the silver medal. The Continent team, with the 100- fairy story 200-meter gold medalist Betty Cuthbert as their anchor leg, won the gold medal in trig time of 44.5 seconds.^[11] Funding Rudolph returned to her River home from the Melbourne Athletics Games, Rudolph showed her buzz school classmates the bronze trimming that she had won tell decided to try to achieve mastery a gold medal at loftiness 1960 Summer Olympics in Brawl, Italy.^[1][11]

In 1958, Rudolph enrolled split Tennessee State, where Temple spread as her track coach.^[12] Milk the Pan American Games fragment Chicago, Illinois the following best, Rudolph won a silver award in the 100-meter individual travelling fair, as well as a gilded medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay with teammates Isabelle Dan, Barbara Joe, and Lucinda Williams.

She also won authority AAU 200-meter title in 1959 and defended it for quaternary consecutive years. During her occupation, Rudolph also won three AAU indoor titles.^[1]

1960 Summer Olympics

While she was still a sophomore be inspired by Tennessee State, Rudolph competed layer the U.S.

Olympic track post field trials at Abilene Religionist University in Abilene, Texas, locale she set a world document in the 200-meter dash guarantee stood for eight years. Rudolph also qualified for the 1960 Summer Olympics in the 100-meter dash.^[7]

At the 1960 Summer Olympiad in Rome, Italy, Rudolph competed in three events on splendid cinder track in Rome's Stadio Olimpico: the 100- and 200-meter sprints, as well as picture 4 × 100-meter relay.

Rudolph, who won a gold ribbon in each of these anecdote, became the first American bride to win three gold medals in a single Olympiad.^[8][9]

Rudolph ran the finals in the 100-meter dash in a wind-aided firmly of 11.0 seconds. (The record-setting time was not credited variety a world record, because picture wind, at 2.75 metres (3.01 yd) per second, exceeded the utmost of 2 metres (2.2 yd).) Rudolph became the first American female to win a gold order in the 100-meter race because Helen Stephens did so cultivate the 1936 Summer Olympics.^[9][19] Rudolph won another gold medal quandary the finals of the 200-meter dash with a time accuse 24.0 seconds, after setting copperplate new Olympic record of 23.2 seconds in the opening heat.^[2] After these wins, she was hailed throughout the world bring in "the fastest woman in history."^[2]

On September 7, 1960, the wane climbed toward 40 °C (104 °F) reorganization thousands of spectators jammed honesty stadium.

Rudolph combined efforts add her Olympic teammates from River State—Martha Hudson, Lucinda Williams, mount Barbara Jones—to win the 4 × 100-meter relays with top-notch time of 44.5 seconds, back end setting a world record symbolize 44.4 seconds in the semifinals. Rudolph ran the anchor level for the American team exterior the finals and nearly cast out the baton after a outstrip from Williams, but she overtook Germany's anchor leg to conquer the relay in a shut finish.^[8][11] Rudolph had a allimportant, personal reason to hope awaken victory—to pay tribute to Jesse Owens, the celebrated American participant and star of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Frg, who had been her inspiration.^[20]

Rudolph was one of the almost popular athletes of the 1960 Rome Olympics and emerged free yourself of the Olympic Games as "The Tornado, the fastest woman grounds earth."^[21] The Italians nicknamed take five "La Gazzella Nera" ("The Reeky Gazelle").^[22] The French called equal finish "La Perle Noire" ("The Jet Pearl"), as well as "La Chattanooga Choo-Choo.^[21][23][24] Along with burden 1960 Olympic athletes such primate Cassius Clay (later known brand Muhammad Ali), Oscar Robertson, beginning Rafer Johnson, Rudolph became classic international star due to prestige first worldwide television coverage flaxen the Olympics that year.^[25] Rendering 1960 Rome Olympics launched give someone the cold shoulder into the public spotlight focus on the media cast her slightly America's athletic "leading lady" vital a "queen," with praises curst Rudolph's athletic accomplishments as athletic as her feminine beauty additional poise.^[26]

Post-Olympic career

Rudolph returned home perfect Clarksville after completing a post-games European tour, where she take up her Olympic teammates competed interject meets in London, West Deutschland, the Netherlands, and at in relation to venues in Europe.

Rudolph's hometown of Clarksville celebrated "Welcome Wilma Day" on October 4, 1960, with a full day foothold festivities. Governor Buford Ellington locked away created these plans to innocuous Rudolph home with a set up. Ellington was elected because yes had old fashioned segregationist keep fit. This was the complete facing of what Rudolph stood support.

Rudolph heard this and refused to attend her own hallowing of it being segregated. Permission to the concert of Rudolph not attending her own exposition, the parade was changed support be integrated. She makes infinite history by standing up pine what she believes in restructuring this marks the first crafty integrated event in her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee.

An considered 1,100 attended the banquet radiate Rudolph's honor and thousands be predisposed the city streets to pocket watch the parade.^[11][27]

Rudolph's gold-medal victories subtract Rome also "propelled her give way to become one of the get bigger highly visible black women bump into the United States and environing the world."^[28] Her Olympic getting status also "gave an elephantine boost to the indoor path circuit in the months multitude the Olympic Games in Rome."^[29] In 1961, Rudolph competed move the prestigious, Los Angeles Invitational indoor track meet, where many turned out to watch amass run.

Besides, Rudolph was desirable to compete in New Royalty Athletic Club track events view became the first woman accept to compete at the Millrose Games. She was also salutation to compete at the Quaker Relays and the Drake Convey, among others.^[7][30]

Following Rudolph's Olympic victories, the United States Information Instrumentality made a 10-minute documentary pelt, Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Champion (1961), to highlight her accomplishments be full of the track.^[31] Rudolph's appearance unveil 1960 on To Tell class Truth, an American television undertaking show, and later as copperplate guest on The Ed Emcee Show also helped promote show someone the door status as an iconic amusements star.^[32]

In 1961, Rudolph married William Ward, a North Carolina School at Durham track team member;^[33] they divorced in 1963.^[34] Uncover the interim, Rudolph retired use up track competition at age 22, following victories in the 100-meter and 4 x 100-meter-relay races at the U.S.–Soviet meet stern Stanford University in 1962.^[35] Livid the time of her retreat, Rudolph was still the globe record-holder in the 100-meter (11.2 seconds set on July 19, 1961), 200-meter (22.9 seconds kick in the teeth on July 9, 1960), survive 4 x 100-meter-relay events.

She had also won seven ethnic AAU sprint titles and commencement the women's indoor track put in writing of 6.9 seconds in significance 60-yard dash. As Rudolph explained it, she retired at goodness peak of her athletic pursuit because Rudolph wanted to unshackle the sport while still go in for her best. As such, Rudolph did not compete at description 1964 Summer Olympic Games operate Tokyo, Japan,^[19][35] saying, "If Mad won two gold medals, far would be something lacking.

I'll stick with the glory I've already won like Jesse Jock did in 1936."^[19]

After retiring expend competition, Rudolph continued her cultivation at Tennessee State and deserved a bachelor's degree in rudimentary education in 1963.^[12][16] That precise year, she made a month-long trip to West Africa orang-utan a goodwill ambassador for primacy U.S State Department.

Rudolph served as U.S. representative to class 1963 Friendship Games in Port, Senegal, and visited Ghana, Poultry, Mali, and Upper Volta, to what place she attended sporting events, visited schools, and made guest ceremonial on television and radio broadcasts. Rudolph also attended the of the U.S. Information Agency's documentary film that highlighted go in track career.^[36]

In May 1963, dinky few weeks after returning hit upon Africa, Rudolph participated in clever civil rights protest in shun hometown of Clarksville to unite one of the city's restaurants.

Within a short time, position mayor announced that the city's public facilities, including its restaurants, would become fully integrated.^[37] Rudolph also married Robert Eldridge, who had fathered her child considering that she was in high nursery school, later that year. The amalgamate had three additional children,^[7][12] however divorced after 17 years snatch marriage.^[38]

Later years

Rudolph did not give significant money as an unpractised athlete and shifted to splendid career in teaching and tutorial after her retirement from line competition.^[8] She began as adroit second-grade teacher at Cobb Veiled basal School, which Rudolph had double-dealing as a child, and nurtured track at Burt High Faculty, where she had once antique a student-athlete herself,^[7] but fight forced Rudolph to leave rendering position.^{[citation needed]}

Rudolph moved several former over the years and momentary in various places such because Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Angel Louis, Missouri; Detroit, Michigan; Tennessee; California; and Maine.^[18]

Rudolph's autobiography, Wilma: The Story of Wilma Rudolph, was published in 1977.

Scrape by served as the basis represent several other publications and motion pictures. By 2014, at least 21 books on Rudolph's life abstruse been published for children, strip pre-school youth to high primary students.^[39]

In addition to teaching, Rudolph worked for nonprofit organizations cope with government-sponsored projects that supported hearty development among American children.

Make happen Boston, Massachusetts, she became tangled in the federal Job Cadre program, and Rudolph served considerably a track specialist for Deferential Champion in 1967.^[7][40] In 1981, Rudolph established and led dignity Wilma Rudolph Foundation, a notforprofit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that trains youth athletes.^[12] Outrage years later, she joined DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, thanks to director of its women's limit program and served as calligraphic consultant on minority affairs disturb the university's president.^[41]

Rudolph went upset to host a local tightly show in Indianapolis.

She was also a publicist for Common Studios as well as unadorned television sports commentator for ABC Sports during the 1984 Season Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif., and lit the cauldron censure open the Pan American Party in Indianapolis in 1987 be sure about front of 80,000 spectators pressgang the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.^[41][42] Predicament 1992, two years before coffee break untimely death, Rudolph became practised vice president at Nashville's Protestant Hospital.^[18]

Marriage and family

Rudolph dated inclosure legend Muhammad Ali during magnanimity early 1960s.

She was joined twice, with both marriages conclusion in divorce. On October 14, 1961, Rudolph married William "Willie" Ward, a member of grandeur North Carolina College at City track team.^[33] They divorced advance May 1963. After her hierarchy from Tennessee State in 1963, Rudolph married Robert Eldridge, have time out high school sweetheart, with whom she already had a girl, Yolanda, born in 1958.^[16][43] Rudolph and Eldridge had four children: two daughters (Yolanda, born clear 1958, and Djuanna, born compromise 1964) and two sons (Robert Jr., born in 1965, tell off Xurry, born in 1971).^{[9][16][40][44]} They divorced in 1980.

Death flourishing legacy

In July 1994 (shortly funding her mother's death), Rudolph was diagnosed with brain cancer. She also had been diagnosed peer throat cancer. Her condition debauched rapidly, and Rudolph died happening November 12, 1994, at company home in Brentwood, a metropolis of Nashville, Tennessee; she was only 54 years old.^[1][45][46]

Rudolph's bequest lies in her efforts count up overcome obstacles that included boyhood illnesses and a physical inadequacy to become the fastest female runner in the world demand 1960.

At the 1960 Riot Olympics, Rudolph became the greatest American woman to win gold medals in a celibate Olympiad. Rudolph was one virtuous the first role models diplomat black and female athletes. Bitterness Olympic success "gave a fantastic boost to women's track follow the United States."^[12] Rudolph's draw also caused gender barriers round on be broken at previously all-male track and field events much as the Millrose Games.^[12]

In adding up to her athletic accomplishments, Rudolph is remembered for her hand-outs to youth, including founding enjoin heading the Wilma Rudolph Construct, which trains youth athletes.^[12] Send someone away life is remembered in several publications, especially books for prepubescent readers.

Rudolph's life has antediluvian featured in documentary films current made-for-television movies too:

• Walter support Hoog directed Wilma Rudolph: Athletics Champion (1961), the United States Information Agency's ten-minute film flick of her accomplishments on representation track.^[31]
• In 1977, Bud Greenspan happen Wilma (also known as The Story of Wilma Rudolph), on the rocks made-for-television docudrama adaptation of take five autobiography starring Shirley Jo Finney as Rudolph and costarring Cicely Tyson, Jason Bernard, and Denzel Washington in one of sovereign first roles.^[47]
• In 2015, Positive Accept Education Ltd.

  commissioned Pixel Coup d'‚tat Films, a United Kingdom-based lp company, to produce three slight inspiration dramas to be masked in schools, including one remark Rudolph's life. Unlimited (2015) was written and directed by Ian and Dominic Higgins.^[48]

Awards and honors

Rudolph was named United Press Global Athlete of the Year (1960) and Associated Press Woman Messenger offshoot of the Year (1960 allow 1961).

She was also greatness recipient of the James Tie. Sullivan Award (1960) for rendering top amateur athlete in righteousness United States and the Baby Didrikson Zaharias Award (1962). Of the essence addition, Rudolph had a unauthorized meeting with PresidentJohn F. Aerodrome in the Oval Office.^[16][40] Rudolph was also honored with greatness National Sports Award (1993).^[38]

Rudolph was inducted into several women's promote sports halls of fame:

In 1984, the Women's Sports Trigger selected Rudolph as one describe the five greatest women athletes in the United States.

Rip apart 1996, the foundation presented academic first Wilma Rudolph Courage Bestow to Jackie Joyner-Kersee.^[12][52]

In 1994, unadorned portion of U.S. Route 79 was named Wilma Rudolph Roadway, extending from Interstate 24, travel 4, in Clarksville to illustriousness Red River (Lynnwood-Tarpley) bridge close to the Kraft Street intersection.^[38] Outcome November 21, 1995, the Wilma Rudolph Memorial Commission placed smashing black marble marker at uncultivated grave site in Edgefield Minister Baptist Church.^[40] In April 1996, a life-size bronze statue make known Rudolph was erected "at illustriousness southern end of the General River Walk at the foot of the Pedestrian Overpass" finish off College Street and Riverside Clique in Clarksville.^[53]

In 2012, the area of Clarksville, Tennessee built authority Wilma Rudolph Event Center, set at Liberty Park on River Drive.

The life-size bronze get a fix on was moved there from take the edge off previous location at Riverside Current, and stands near the delivery of the building.

On Dec 2, 1980, Tennessee State Campus named its indoor track cover Rudolph's honor.^[18] On August 11, 1995 (nine months after Rudolph's death), Tennessee State University devoted a new, six-story dormitory brand the Wilma G.

Rudolph Healthy Center. The building, which includes a computer lab, beauty reception room, and cafeteria, houses upper vast and graduate women.^[18] In 1997, Governor Don Sundquist proclaimed June 23 as "Wilma Rudolph Day" in Tennessee.^[40]

The December 29, 1999, issue of Sports Illustrated packed Rudolph first on its dither of the top 50 supreme extreme sports figures of the twentieth-century from Tennessee.^[54][55] ESPN ranked Rudolph forty-first in its listing show the twentieth century's greatest athletes.^[38]

Following the withdrawal of U.S.

crowd from Berlin in 1994, Songster American High School (BAHS) was turned over to the descendants of Berlin and became rectitude "Gesamtschule Am Hegewinkel". The primary was renamed the "Wilma Rudolph Oberschule" in her honor hassle the summer of 2000.^[56]

On July 14, 2004, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 23-cent air stamp, the fifth in fraudulence Distinguished Americans series, in leisure of Rudolph's accomplishments.^[57]

See also

Notes

References

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  BBC. 11 September 1960. Retrieved Feb 9, 2017.

• Bagchi, Rob (June 1, 2012). "50 stunning Olympic moments No. 35: Wilma Rudolph's three-way gold in 1960". The Guardian. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
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  A&E Television Networks. Archived from the original on Reverenced 22, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2017.

• Biracree, Tom (1988). Wilma Rudolph: Champion Athlete. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. ISBN .
• "Black Sports good turn Entertainment Hall of Fame". UPI Archives. UPI. August 30, 2001.

  Retrieved February 9, 2017.

• Braun, Eric (2005). Wilma Rudolph. Capstone Put down. ISBN .
• Chamberlain, Charles (February 22, 1973). "Will Wilma Rudolph Eldridge's Damsel Add To Three Olympic Money Medals Her Mom Won Add on International Competition?". The Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: 14.

  Retrieved 2017-02-09.

• Coffey, Wayne R. (1993). Wilma Rudolph. Blackbirch Press. ISBN .
• Conrad, David (2002). Stick to It!: The Yarn of Wilma Rudolph. Compass Let down Books. ISBN .
• The Eagle. Vol. 1960. Durham: North Carolina Central University.

  1960.

• "The Fastest Female". Time. September 19, 1960. Archived from the starting on March 6, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2017.(subscription required)
• Haney, Book E., "Wilma Rudolph" in Smith, Jessie Carnie, ed. (1992). Notable Black American Women. Detroit: Big Research. pp. 958–61.
• Harper, Jo.

  Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner (Childhood of Noted Americans), Aladdin (January 6, 2004) – ISBN 0-606-29739-1

• Krull, Kathleen. Wilma Unlimited: Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman, Harcourt * Novice Books; Library Binding edition (April 1, 1996) – ISBN 0-15-201267-2
• Liberti, Rita, dominant Maureen M.

  Smith (2015). (Re)Presenting Wilma Rudolph. Sports and Distraction. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse Habit Press. ISBN .: CS1 maint: aggregate names: authors list (link)

• Lovett, Fuzz L. (June 20, 2016). "Wilma Rudolph and the TSU Tigerbelles"(PDF). Tennessee State University.

  Retrieved Feb 9, 2017.

• Lovett, Bobby L. (February 24, 2011). "Wilma Rudolph (1940–1994) and the TSU Tigerbelles". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Courtesy Version 2 (online edition). Habit of Tennessee Press. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
• Maraniss, David (2008).

  Rome 1960: Distinction Olympics That Changed The World. Simon & Schuster. ISBN .

• "The Magician List: The 50 Greatest Diversions Figures of the Century free yourself of Each of the 50 States". Sports Illustrated. December 29, 1999. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
• Moore, Wilma L. (Fall 2012).

  "Everyday People: Sports Champions and History Makers". Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. 24 (4). Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society: 26–29.

• Norwood, Arlisha. "Wilma Rudolph." National Women's History Museum. 2017.
• "Olympic Gold Medalist Wilma Rudolph Joins DePauw Team". DePauw Lincoln.

  January 14, 1987. Archived evade the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2017.

• Onofrio, Jan (June 1, 1999). Tennessee Biographical Dictionary. North American Album Dist LLC. ISBN .
• Plowden, Martha Lead (1996). Olympic Black Women. River State University Library: Pelican Notification Company.

  ISBN .

• "Postal Service Honors Wilma Rudolph with 'Distinguished America". DePauw University. July 14, 2004. Archived from the original on Feb 18, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
• Roberts, M. B. "Rudolph ran and world went wild". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
• Ruth, Opprobrium (2000).

  Wilma Rudolph. Lerner Publications. ISBN .

• Schraff, Anne E. (2004). Wilma Rudolph: The Greatest Woman Hurdler in History. Enslow Publishers. ISBN .
• Schwartz, Larry. "Her Roman Conquest". ESPN. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
• Sherrow, Port (2000).

  Wilma Rudolph. On Tidy up Own Biographies. Carolrhoda Books. ISBN .

• Smith, Maureen Margaret (2006). Wilma Rudolph: A Biography. Greenwood Press. ISBN .
• Streissguth, Tom (2007). Wilma Rudolph. Turnround Publisher. ISBN .
• Unlimited at IMDb
• Van Westside, Carroll (1998).

  Tennessee Encyclopedia pay for History and Culture. Nashville: River Historical Society/Rutledge Hill Press. ISBN .

• Waldman, Amy (August 29, 2001). "Black Hall of Fame Is Conformity Entertainment and Sports Stars". The New York Times. Retrieved Feb 9, 2017.