Wilma Rudolph was an American sprinter born on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. She overcame polio as a child, which left her with a weakened left leg. Despite this challenge, she excelled in track and field, eventually earning a scholarship to Tennessee State University. Rudolph gained international fame at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. Her victories in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay made her a symbol of athletic excellence and a pioneer for women in sports.