At school, wilma showed a talent for basketball and sprinting, earning the nickname. How wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest woman outside. Author kathleen krull and illustrator david diaz have done an outstanding job in bringing to life the story of olympic heroine wilma rudolph, the africanamerican runner who overcame a disabling childhood illness and ultimately triumphed at the 1960 rome olympics. Tom biracree a biography of the woman who overcame crippling polio as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track in a single olympics. Thomas streissguth a biography of the woman who overcame crippling polio as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track in a single olympics.
American sprinter wilma glodean rudolph was born on june 23, 1940, in saint bethlehem, tennessee. Wilma unlimited how wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest. She lectured in every part of america and even served in 1991 as an. In 1981 she established the wilma rudolph foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting young athletes by teaching them that they, too, can succeed even in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, shed run.
In 1946, sixyearold wilma rudolph dreamed of walking and playing like other children, but a sickness called polio had damaged her left leg. Wilma rudolph book by jo harper, meryl henderson official. The short sentences and plentiful illustrations will help make this biography accessible. Use the authors note at the back of the book to add additional events to wilmas timeline.
Wilma rudolph book ottawa public library bibliocommons. In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillioncopy bestselling little people, big dreams series, discover the life of wilma rudolph, the remarkable sprinter and olympic champion. She developed pneumonia and polio as a child, rendering her disabled for. The dramatic personal story of an indomitable black woman who became a great olympic athlete. During the contest period from april 17th to may 1st at noon et, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of camino winds by john grisham and if it bleeds by stephen king. She overcame her disabilities to compete in the 1956 summer olympic games, and in 1960, she became the first american woman to win three gold medals in track. I think the story of wilma is well told one, given what i know about her. She lost the use of her left leg due to polio and wore leg braces. For olympic runner wilma rudolph, the proverbial starting line was way behind most americans. Krull tells wilma s story in a simple, straightforward way that should. Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for kids. The first american woman ever to win three gold medals in the olympics, wilma rudolph overcame major obstacles to make her mark in the record books and in life. One of wilma s admirers referred to her as an inspiration.
Wilma overcomes may obstacles in her lifetime, so this book was a great. Watch, listen and learn about wilma rudolphs icredible life. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Born in 1940 in tennessee, wilma rudolph was a child who overcame her disabilities through physical therapy and hard work, becoming a gifted runner.
Wilma unlimited is a stunning blend of art and history. See more ideas about wilma rudolph, biography project and women in history. Wilma unlimited how wilma rudolph became the worlds. Jun 30, 2006 wilma rudolph was born into a large family and struggled with health problems for the first several years of her life, including polio. Wilma was born into a family with 22 brothers and sisters, in the segregated south. Wilma was a survivor and determined to do her best. Before wilma rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. One of twentytwo children from clarksville, tennessee, wilma became the first woman to win three gold medals at an olympic games. Wilma rudolph is a book in the little people, big dreams series and is a childrens picture book written by maria isabel sanchez vegara and illustrated by amelia flower. Wilma rudolph, american sprinter, the first american woman to win three trackandfield gold medals in a single olympics.
Sep 24, 2012 a personal narrative of wilma rudolph s story, retold by. She was born premature and sickly to a poor black family in the jim crow south in 1940. But wilma persisted with treatment, and she recovered her strength by the age of 12. She contracted polio in her early years and her doctors said she would never walk again. It was written so that heavy subject polio, teen death, teenage pregnancy were handled in a manner for a child to understand and appreciate. She contracted polio in her early years and her doctors said she. How wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest woman by kathleen krull and david diaz feb 1, 2000 4. Her life is also remembered in unlimited 2015, a short documentary film for school audiences, as well as in numerous publications, especially books for young readers. And she did runall the way to the olympics, where she became the first american woman to earn three gold medals in a single olympiad. Jul 01, 2000 wilma rudolph was the first of many great female american sprinters. With your child, make a timeline of the major events in wilmas life.
A personal narrative of wilma rudolphs story, retold by. As we continue to selfisolate amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there is no shortage of book toscreen adaptations releasing in. She lectured in every part of america and even served in 1991 as an ambassador to the european celebration of the dismantling of the berlin wall, the wall that for three decades separated east from west berlin, germany. Paralyzed with polio when she was a child, wilma proved that you can overcome obstacles and. One of wilmas admirers referred to her as an inspiration. Over the years, wilma overcame incredible odds to become one of the worlds finest athletes. The twentieth of 22 children, she spent most of her childhood in bed suffering from whooping cough, scarlet fever, and pneumonia. The rest of the time, she was forced to wear a heavy. Wilma rudolph, once known as the sickliest child in clarksville, had become the fastest woman in the world.
Shayne cox, nicki garcia, jessica henkel, and codi yaklin. Bethlehem, tennessee, wilma rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a brace on her left leg. Its a great book for a young person to read, especially young women of color. Wilma opened that door, and for all women, not just in track and field. Wilma rudolph biography family, childhood, children.
A biography, and proclaimed, wilma rudolphs story is more than the races she won and world records she established. Wilma rudolph by victoria sherrow, larry johnson, paperback. Reading her story brings tears to my eyes because, at least, america is recognizing a welldeserved runner and olympianwhich was not my fathers case in cameroon. Jun 08, 2018 for olympic runner wilma rudolph, the proverbial starting line was way behind most americans. Feb, 2018 watch, listen and learn about wilma rudolphs icredible life. Before wilma rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her l. Wilma rudolph was the first of many great female american sprinters. Later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics. She was the author of an autobiography, wilma, which was published in 1977and the subject of a television movie based on her book. Wilma rudolph made history in the 1960 summer olympic games in rome, italy, when she became the first american woman to win three gold medals in the track and field competition. Wilma spent hours each week doing painful exercises at a hospital for african american patients. Naden, rose blue selected pages order here stick to it the story of wilma rudolph spyglass books by david conrad selected pages order here wilma rudolph, newmaster reading comprehension, homework helpers, grade 3 by mary newmaster selected pages.
Though she had trouble even walking, her love of sport and movement motivated her to rehabilitate her legs. The story of wilma rudolph 1977, her autobiography, was adapted into a television docudrama. Wilma rudolph book chicago public library bibliocommons. By age 16, she was an allstate basketball player and a bronze medalist in the 1956 olympics. Tom biracree a biography of the woman who overcame crippling polio as a child to become the first woman to. She was the 20th child of her fathers 22 children from two marriages. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athletes life.
When she was in the eighth grade, wilma rudolph s sister made the track team at burt high school, but wilma didnt. Rudolph was sickly as a child and could not walk without an orthopedic shoe until she was 11 years old. Wilma rudolph packed much into her fiftyfour years before she died of brain cancer in 1994. Wilma rudolph 10 facts on the athlete who defied all odds. This book is about wilma rudolph, an amazing athlete and human being, from my home town. A native of clarksville, wilma rudolph was one of the most celebrated female athletes of alltime. When she contracted polio, the doctor said she would never walk again, but wilma refused to believe him. See more ideas about wilma rudolph, track and field and women in history. A biography of the woman who overcame crippling polio as a child to be. She was born prematurely weighting just 2 kg in the poor, racially segregated south state. Early life rudolph was born prematurely on june 23, 1940, in st.
Jan 14, 2020 later in life, she formed the wilma rudolph foundation to promote amateur athletics. How wilma rudolph became the worlds fastest woman by kathleen krull introduce wilma unlimited wilma rudolph went from being unable to walk to being the fastest woman runner in the world. Her determination to compete, however, made her a star basketball player. At school, wilma showed a talent for basketball and sprinting. It is a cursory biography of wilma rudolph an american olympiad who was once considered the fastest woman in the world. For more than two decades, wilma rudolph sought to impart the lessons she learned about amateur athletics to other young men and women. Sherrow offers more information than kathleen krulls wilma unlimited 1996 while her book is easier to read than tom biracrees wilma rudolph 1988. Wilma rudolph people people history tn history for. Wilma rudolph was born black in jim crow tennessee. Wilma rudolph was born into a large family and struggled with health problems for the first several years of her life, including polio. Greenwood biographies wilma rudolph was born into a large family and struggled with health problems for the first several years of her life, including polio. The rest of the time, she was forced to wear a heavy and cumbersome legbrace. Like other poor people of that era, wilma rudolph s home had an outhouse. Wilma rudolph had plenty of love and attention from her parents and her 21 brothers and sisters while she was growing up in the 1940s in clarksville, tennessee.
1076 720 1412 1258 907 210 1577 1502 1521 330 686 889 916 530 1427 1148 370 1650 861 353 526 364 680 480 1293 395 158 213 1641 1240 753 1515 1200 1152 138 648 1005 50 1129 420 1439 603 669 1264 114 574 1421