|
Formula 1 |
Football |
Tennis |
Columns |
Other Sports |
Slideshows |
Videos
The 20th child in a family of 22 contracted pneumonia and scarlet fever at the age of four, and later succumbed to a mild attack of polio which caused shrinkage in her left leg.
The illness forced the American to wear a brace until the age of nine and then an orthopaedic shoe.
But a supportive mother and caring brothers took it in turns to rub down her legs every day and she shrugged aside her physical imperfections to join in the occasional game of basketball.
Whether it was being helped by others, or simply raw talent, the young Rudolph was determined that nothing would stand in her way.
Image: Wilma Rudolph crosses the finish line to clinch the Olympic 100m event.
Images: AFP
(Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited)
The most famous jump ever | Slave`s grandson who proved Hitler wrong | The man forever tainted by scandal | Full Coverage: Olympics 2008
