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    Wilma Rudolph
    Athletes

    Wilma Rudolph

    1940–1994

    Overcame polio to become the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics.

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    Biography

    Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American sprinter who became a world-record-holding Olympic champion and international sports icon. She overcame childhood polio and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field in a single Olympics.

    Key Achievements

    1

    Won 3 gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics

    2

    First American woman to win 3 golds in a single Olympics

    3

    Overcame childhood polio

    4

    Named AP Female Athlete of the Year twice

    Legacy & Impact

    Rudolph's triumph over disability and racism made her an inspiration for people facing obstacles worldwide.

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