Wilma Rudolph

Maureen M. Smith is a Professor at California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science.

• ForewordIntroductionA Legend is Born--The Early Days of Wilma RudolphWima Removes the Leg Braces and Gets Involved in AthleticsMeeting Ed Temple and Running with the Tenessee State TigerbellesRunning at the 1956 Olympic GamesComing Home to Burt High SchoolBecoming a Tennessee State TigerbelleWillma Runs to History at the 1960 Olympic GamesWilma's Post-Olympic CompetitionsWilma Rudolph--An American ImageHanging Up the Spikes: Wilma in RetirementWilma on Wilma--Writing Her Own StoryThe Legacy of WIlma Rudolph--From Evely Ashford to Marion JonesAppendixBigliographyIndex

For high school students, Smith presents a much-needed biography of athlete Wilma Rudolph (b. 1940)her autobiography is the only other account of her life. She traces Rudolph's early childhood and bout with polio, her Olympic medals in track in 1956 and 1960, other competitions she participated in, and difficulties when her athletic career ended. One chapter discusses her autobiography, and the final chapter describes her influence on other female athletes. The appendix consists of a list of performances of African American women in Olympic track and field.