{"id":5800,"date":"2013-02-12T00:00:45","date_gmt":"2013-02-12T05:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/haveamagnificentday\/?p=5800"},"modified":"2013-02-21T19:28:12","modified_gmt":"2013-02-22T00:28:12","slug":"persistence-and-a-positive-attitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/2013\/02\/persistence-and-a-positive-attitude.html","title":{"rendered":"Persistence and a Positive Attitude"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at 4.5\u00a0lbs., the 20th of 22 siblings.\u00a0 Her father Ed was a railway porter and her mother Blanche a maid.\u00a0 Wilma spent her childhood in leg braces and special shoes; doctors had told her family that she would never walk normally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of racial segregation, she and her mother were not permitted medical care at the local hospital. It was for whites only. There was only one black doctor in Clarksville, and the Rudolph’s budget was tight, so Wilma’s mother spent the next several years nursing Wilma through one illness after another: measles, mumps, scarlet fever, chicken pox and double pneumonia.<\/span><\/p>\n

At age 4, Wilma was told she could not walk because of polio, a crippling disease that had no cure. The doctor told Mrs. Rudolph that Wilma would never walk.\u00a0 But Mrs. Rudolph would not give up on Wilma. \u00a0She found out that she could be treated at Meharry Hospital, the black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. \u00a0Even though it was 50 miles away, Wilma’s mother took her there twice a week for two years, until she was able to walk with the aid of a metal leg brace. \u00a0Then the doctors taught Mrs. Rudolph how to do the physical therapy exercises at home.\u00a0 All of her brothers and sisters helped too, and they did everything to encourage her to be strong and work hard at getting well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her parents demonstrated a strong work ethic and an attitude that you can do anything.\u00a0 5 years later she removed her brace and was walking on her own.\u00a0 By 12, she was challenging every boy in her neighborhood at running and jumping.<\/span><\/p>\n

In high school she joined the basketball team and set a new state record in scoring during her sophomore year – 803 points in 25 games (32 points\/game).\u00a0 In one game she set a record of 49 points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then she started running.\u00a0 Went to the Olympic at 16 in Australia and won a bronze medal.\u00a0 In 1960 she went to the Rome Olympics and became the first woman to win 3 gold medals and won each event in a new world record time.\u00a0 Wilma Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was invited to the White House by JFK and inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.\u00a0 Every year the Woman’s Sports Foundation presents the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award to a woman athlete who overcomes adversity, makes a significant contribution to athletics and serves as a role model for all who have and triumph over challenges.\u00a0 This award was first given in 1996 to Jackie Joyner-Kersee.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Persistence and a positive attitude can change the course of a life from seemingly insurmountable adversity to stunning achievement.”<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brett Olson
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Go forward!<\/span><\/p>\n

smiles,<\/span>
\n\ud83d\ude42 Lee<\/span>
\nThe MEGA Coach<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n