Born June 23, 1940, Clarksville, Tenn. Died November 12, 1994.

Plagued by illness as a child and unable to walk properly until the age of 11, Wilma Rudolph overcame adversity to become the top woman sprinter in the world at the 1960 Olympic Games, winning three gold medals.

A good basketball player and unbeaten track sprinter while still in high school, she went to Tennessee State University and developed into the world's best. The 1961 winner of the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete, she won seven National AAU sprint titles and set world records in the 100, 200 and 4 x 100-meter relays. It was at Rome in 1960 that she was at her best and she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track by taking the 100 and 200 and anchoring the winning 4 x 100 relay team. She also competed in the 1956 Olympics while only 16 years old, winning a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 but failed to qualify in the 200. She later became active in youth work. Elected to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.