Wilma Rudolph

Hello, my name is Wilma Rudolph. When I was a little girl, I was very, very sick. My leg did not work right, so I had to wear a big, heavy brace to help me. It was not easy, but I was not alone. I had a big, wonderful family. I had so many brothers and sisters, and they all loved me very much. They gave me hugs and helped me every single day. My family made me feel safe and strong, even when my leg was weak. They were my happy team.

My family helped me every day. They would rub my leg to make it feel better. They played with me and cheered for me, saying, “You can do it, Wilma.”. One day, something wonderful happened. I took my brace off. At first, I was wobbly. But I kept trying, holding onto my family for help. Soon, I learned to walk all by myself. I was so happy. Then, I learned to run. Oh, running felt like flying. I would run everywhere. I loved feeling the wind and moving so fast. It felt like magic to run and play.

I loved running so much that I never wanted to stop. I practiced running every day, getting stronger and stronger. I ran faster than anyone in my town. When I grew up, I went to a very big race far away. It was called the Olympics, where the best runners from all over the world come to compete. On September 7th, 1960, I stood on the track, and my heart was beating like a little drum. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I won one race. Then another. And then another. I won three shiny gold medals. Everyone in the big stadium cheered for me. They called me the fastest woman in the world. The little girl who once wore a leg brace was now the fastest runner of all. It was my biggest, happiest dream come true.

My story shows that it does not matter how you start. What matters is that you keep trying. Even when things feel hard, believe in yourself. Listen to the people who love you, and always be kind to others. And never, ever give up on your dreams. You can do amazing things too.