Let Me Share a famous life history with you.

Wilma Rudolph was born in a poor home in Tennessee. At the age of four, she had double preumonia with scarlet fever, a deadly combination which left her paralyzed with polio. She had to wear a brace and the doctor said that she would never set foot on the earth. But her mother encouraged her. She told Wilma that with God-given ability, persistence and faith, she could do anything she wanted. Wilma said, “I want to be the fastest woman on the track on this earth.” At the age of nine, against the advice of the doctors, she removed the brace and took the first step, the doctors had said she never would.

At the age of thirteen, she entered her first race and came way, way last. And then she entered her school and third and fourth and came way, way last until a day came when she came first.

At the age of fifteen she went to Tennessee State University where she met a coach by the name of Ed Temple. She told him, “I want to be the fastest woman on the track on earth.”

The day came when she was at the Olympics and Wilma was bitted against a woman named Jutta Heine who had never been beaten. The first event was the 100 meter race.

Wilma beat Jutta Heine and won her first gold metal. The second event was the 200 meter race and Wilma beat Jutta again and won her second gold metal. The third event was the 400- meter relay and she was racing against Jutta once more time, In the relay, the fastest person always runs the last lap and they both anchored their teams. The first three athletes ran and changed the baton easily. When it came to Wilma’s turn, she dropped the baton.

But Wilma saw Jutta shoot up at the other end. She picked the baton, ran like a machine, beat Jutta a third time and won her third gold medal. It became history that a paralytic woman became the fastest woman on this earth at the 1960 Olympics.

What a lesson to be leant from Wilma! It teaches us that successful people do it inspite of, not in the absence of, problems.

Contribution:
V. C. Senthil Kumar, Lecturer, Dept. of Chemistry,
C.P.A College, Bodinayakanur, Theni District