30+ Wilma Rudolph Quotes From The Record-Breaking Olympic Runner
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Wilma Rudolph is the first Black woman to not only win three Olympic gold medals, but to do so at a single Olympic games, held in Rome in 1960.
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born on 23 June 1940 in Tennessee, and weighed just four lbs at birth. She can tell us a story of great determination and inspiration, one that assures us that the human mind is truly capable of extraordinary things.
She suffered greatly in her childhood as she contracted Polio, pneumonia and scarlet fever, keeping her bedridden and leaving her without use of her left leg. However, she refused to stay in bed and was given a brace to help her walk when she was six years old.
Wilma had many siblings to take care of her, and so, with the help of therapy and all the love and care from her family, she got rid of her braces when she was nine. with a little push from her brothers, she took an interest in Basketball at this age.
She attended Burt High School where she played in the girls' basketball team.
Here, her quick sprints within the court caught the attention of Ed Temple, who was the State track coach. He arranged for her to be part of the girls' track team, changing her life forever.
She was determined, hard-working, honest and she loved to run fast with her fluid motion, conquering every track she came across. And soon enough, she was given the opportunity to perform at the 1956 Olympics held in Melbourne, where she won the bronze medal in the 400 Meters Relay.
This taste of victory only pushed her forward to train harder. She became the crowd favorite on every track as they loved to watch her run.
In 1960, she made her country proud by winning three gold medals and in 1983 she was entered into the US Olympic Hall of Fame. She sadly passed away on 12 November 1994.
She is a hero in every athlete's heart, reminding them to work towards their goals despite hurdles in their lives. Becoming the first African American woman to win three Olympic gold medals at a single Olympic games consolidated her hero status!
Check out these Wilma Rudolph quotes to inspire your own journey and, if you love these Wilma Rudolph quotes, you can also check out our track and field quotes and Mia Hamm quotes.
Motivational Wilma Rudolph Quotes
Wilma Rudolph quotes are a great source of motivation, so get yourself back into the game with these highly motivational quotes from Wilma Rudolph.
1. "Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit."
-Wilma Rudolph.
2. "The triumph can't be had without the struggle."
-Wilma Rudolph.
3. "I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened."
-Wilma Rudolph.
4. "My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces."
-Wilma Rudolph.
5. "My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother."
-Wilma Rudolph.
6. "No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you."
-Wilma Rudolph.
7. "I believe in me more than anything in this world."
-Wilma Rudolph.
8. "When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome."
-Wilma Rudolph.
9. "Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose."
-Wilma Rudolph.
10. "The feeling of accomplishment welled up inside of me, three Olympic gold medals. I knew that was something nobody could ever take away from me, ever."
-Wilma Rudolph.
Inspiring Wilma Rudolph Quotes
Are you enjoying these Wilma Rudolph quotes? Wilma Rudolph is an example to everyone that hard work always pays off, so get inspired by these Wilma Rudolph quotes.
11. "I don't know why I run so fast. I just run."
-Wilma Rudolph.
12. "The potential for greatness lives within each of us."
-Wilma Rudolph.
13. "It doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish. It's all a matter of discipline."
-Wilma Rudolph.
14. "When you come from a large, wonderful family, there’s always a way to achieve your goals."
-Wilma Rudolph.
15. "'I can't' are two words that have never been in my vocabulary."
-Wilma Rudolph.
16. "I knew that whatever I set my mind to do. I could do."
-Wilma Rudolph.
17. "Sometimes it takes years to really grasp what has happened to your life."
-Wilma Rudolph.
18. "I tell them that the most important aspect is to be yourself and have confidence in yourself."
-Wilma Rudolph.
19. "Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle."
-Wilma Rudolph.
20. "I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me."
-Wilma Rudolph.
Famous Quotes By Wilma Rudolph
Here are a few prominent Wilma Rudolph quotes to help you in your lives. Which of these Wilma Rudolph quotes inspires you the most?
21. "I have spent a lifetime trying to share what it has meant to be a woman first in the world of sports so that other young women have a chance to reach their dreams."
-Wilma Rudolph.
22. "I was determined to discover what life held for me beyond the inner-city streets."
-Wilma Rudolph.
23. "My life wasn't like the average person who grew up and decided to enter the world of sports."
-Wilma Rudolph.
24. "Nobody goes undefeated all the time."
-Wilma Rudolph.
25. "By the time I was 12 I was challenging every boy in our neighborhood at running, jumping, everything."
-Wilma Rudolph.
26. "If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday."
-Wilma Rudolph.
27. "I'm in my prime. There’s no goal too far."
-Wilma Rudolph.
28. "I tried to ask God, why was I here? What was my purpose? Surely, it wasn't just to win three gold medals. There has to be more to this life than that."
-Wilma Rudolph.
29. "Black women don't quibble about things that are not important."
-Wilma Rudolph.
30. "I thought I'd never get to see that. Florence Griffith Joyner — every time she ran, I ran."
-Wilma Rudolph.
31. "I don't consciously try to be a role model, so I don't know if I am or not. That's for other people to decide."
-Wilma Rudolph.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 30+ Wilma Rudolph quotes, then why not take a look at these African American, or these Usain Bolt quotes for more?
Main image credit: rook76 / Shutterstock.com
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A professional content writer hailing from Kolkata, India, with extensive experience in the corporate sector, Writvik Gupta has worked with several reputed companies, including ITC WelcomHotel Jodhpur, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Aryan Imaging, and Eduquity. He also serves as a consultant for a startup based in Bangalore. With a passion for the outdoors, Writvik enjoys trekking and traveling to remote destinations. He also has a keen interest in exploring various cuisines and regularly volunteers for social causes.
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