Tribute to Wilma Rudolph's Strength Beyond Struggles

^{Nov 11, 2024 | Edition #48}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

Time sure flies! Tomorrow, November 12, marks 30 years since we lost Wilma Rudolph—the incredible ‘Jesse Owens of track and field.’ Despite the challenge of polio, she rose to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. Today, we’re honoring her legacy alongside two other legends, Ray Ewry and Walter Davis, who similarly defied the odds and inspired generations with their resilience.

And speaking of milestones, we’ve just hit 75,000 track and field fans! 🎉 We couldn’t have reached this without you, and today we’re inviting you to be a part of what’s next. We’ve attached a quick poll linked to our survey, where you can share your thoughts (and discover a little thank-you surprise along the way!).

So let’s dive in and let’s keep this journey strong—looking forward to plenty of yesses!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.”

— Wilma Rudolph

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from Track & Field universe:

🏃🏻‍♀️ Remembering Wilma Rudolph: The Small-Town Sensation!

🏅 Wilma Rudolph’s Road to Glory

💫 Story of the ‘The Human Frog’: Ray Ewry

💪🏻 Walter Davis’ Journey of Perseverance

🏅 Beyond-the-Medals

Wilma Rudolph: The Small-Town Girl Who Shook the World

"I don't know why I run so fast," Wilma Rudolph once said, never quite figuring out where her natural speed came from. Think back to 1960 in Rome, where Wilma Rudolph, a 5’11’’ took 7 days to make history by winning three gold medals in track and field, a feat no woman had pulled off before! She crushed the 100m, the 200m, and the 4×100m relay, earning her the title of the fastest woman in the world. Here is a clip compiling them all! But the most memorable part? When she returned home to Clarksville, Tennessee, they threw her a massive parade and a banquet—both of which were the first integrated events in the town’s history. Yeah, that’s right—she was a trailblazer, not just on the track.

Now, if you think Wilma had it easy because she was a natural, think again! To her family, Wilma wasn’t the global legend she became—she was the 20th one of the 22 siblings, born into a family that was scraping by. Thus, before the name ‘Rudolph’ became her identity, she was nicknamed the 'Black Pearl' or 'Skeeter.' Her early years were a string of health issues, including polio, which left her in a leg brace.

But that didn't keep her from finding her purpose in life—sports; her association with which started in her backyard with a basketball hoop set up by her brothers. Her dad insisted that if her sister got on the college track team, Wilma was coming too. And she didn’t just ‘come along’—she owned the track!

After clinching bronze at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, she was unstoppable. That win was only the start, leading to her historic triple-gold in Rome. In the years after, Wilma went from a local hero to a national treasure. She made it into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame, and Tennessee even dedicated an indoor track in her honor.

Her life was so inspiring they turned it into a two-hour movie by 1977! But honestly, how could they not? Wilma didn’t just break records; she shattered expectations, proving that no barrier—be it poverty, health, or discrimination—was going to keep her from greatness. A true American icon!

Continue Reading: Nashville Legend Wilma Rudolph Changed the Course of Women's Sports

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Today we’re celebrating 75,000 track and field fans who make Essentially Athletics awesome! We may be a big group, but there’s only one YOU! 🏅 So, we’d love for you to be part of our next big step.

We want to keep things real – help us get even better by sharing what you love, what you’d tweak, and what you’d like to see more of in our quick 5-minute survey. And we’ll even sweeten the deal by giving 10 fans a $50 gift card just for completing the survey. (Just a little way to say thank you!)

So, how about it?

⏳Timeless Legends

Wilma Rudolph's Journey to Olympic Gold

Before becoming the statuesque athlete we all know, Wilma Rudolph was labeled the "sickly child." Born prematurely, she weighed just 4 and a half pounds. But that was only the beginning of her health battles. By age four, she was hit with a double whammy of pneumonia and scarlet fever, absolutely destroying her immune system. Not long after, she battled everything under the sun—whooping cough, measles, chickenpox, you name it.

Then came the real scare. Her left leg was paralyzed, and her mother noticed it was starting to deform. This poor kid spent her days stuck in bed while other kids were out playing. When she hit six, polio entered the mix, forcing her to hop around on one leg. By eight, she was stuck wearing a leg brace she hated with every fiber of her being. But she wasn’t in this alone—her family was her rock. Every day, her siblings massaged her leg like clockwork, and her mother drove her on a grueling 90-mile round trip to Nashville for heat and water therapy. (Explore her mini bio below)

Finally, by age nine, she could ditch the braces, and by twelve, she walked without crutches or special shoes. And then, as if in some movie montage, this little girl who once couldn’t even walk took her first run. She didn’t stop there—she sprinted her way into the history books, scooping up not one, not two, but three gold medals on the Olympic stage.

But she wasn’t done yet. Wilma went on to become a spokesperson, advocate, and coach, even founding the Wilma Rudolph Foundation. She wasn’t just determined to make her mark; she wanted to inspire others, just like another polio survivor who refused to let the disease win featured in our next story!

Continue Reading: Wilma Rudolph, Olympic gold medalist & civil rights pioneer

📽️ Video Vault

Dennis Ogbe’s Epic Fight Against Polio!

Polio may have altered the way Dennis Ogbe walks, but did it shake his determination? Not even close. Discover the incredible drive that pushes this track and field athlete to conquer Polio day in and day out!

🏃🏻‍♀️Track Icons

The Forgotten Hero: Ray Ewry's Timeless Story

When people talk about the greatest summer Olympians from the USA, names like Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee always come up. But there's one name that often gets left out of the conversation—Ray Ewry. This is a man who turned a childhood tragedy into one of the most legendary comeback stories in sports. So, how good was Ray Ewry compared to these legendary athletes? Let’s put it this way: Ewry walked away with 10 Olympic golds! But what makes his story even more incredible is that, as a kid, he had to relearn how to walk after battling polio.

Ewry contracted polio in 1881, at a time when doctors had little understanding of the disease. Thus, the professionals in Lafayette didn’t have much to go on, poking at his knees with long needles just trying to get a nerve response. Consequently, he was bound to a wheelchair for a while and there was no cure in sight.

With the help of a therapist who refused to give up on him, Ewry began a grueling routine, rebuilding his legs inch by inch. It wasn’t about medals or world records then—it was about finding his freedom, about defying a fate that seemed sealed. Years of relentless exercise transformed him from a boy bound to a wheelchair into a towering 6'3" figure of strength. And then, a miracle in itself, Ray not only walked but took flight—becoming the "human frog" who would leap his way into history.

Eventually, Ewry joined the New York Athletic Club and secured 2 golds in Athens. He was also nicknamed “the human frog” for his unique jumping style, and he dominated the jumping events, winning 8 golds over the next 3 Olympic cycles—a record that stood for 100 years! But despite his athletic genius, Ewry hardly got the recognition he deserved. No big endorsement deals. No appearances on talk shows. No Wheaties boxes with his face on it. Even when he came home from the mega stage, there were no parades—just the satisfaction of knowing he had made history. But if you think that’s the end of the story for heroes who beat the odds against polio, there is more…

Continue Reading: Ray Ewry wasn't even supposed to walk

 💫Inspiring Feats

A Giant Among Men: Walter Davis's Remarkable Legacy

Walter Davis’s journey through life was never a smooth ride. Just eight years old when polio struck, he had no idea what was happening. “I just knew my mother was upset, and I was being treated like a king,” Davis recalled. But while the love and attention felt good, the reality of wearing leg braces? Not so much. And being stuck in bed for months on end? Well, that was pure torture.

But Davis wasn’t about to let something like polio stop him. After three grueling years of leg-strengthening exercises, his persistence began to pay off. By the late 1940s, he was at Texas A&M University, making a name for himself in both athletics and basketball. With a mix of raw talent and unrelenting drive, Davis skyrocketed to greatness.

In 1952, he made history by winning the U.S.’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the high jump, clearing 6’8 ¼” at the Helsinki Games. Here is a clip that captures his incredible feat. But he wasn’t done there. Davis shattered the world record with a jump of 6’10 ¾” and became the first-ever athlete to clear a 7-foot bar. Pure magic in motion, folks.

Standing at 6’9”, it didn’t take long for NBA teams to notice Davis’s athleticism. He was drafted by the Warriors and went on to have a solid six-season career in the NBA, playing center and power forward. Davis even won two NBA titles—one with the Warriors in 1956 and another with the Hawks in 1958.

Averaging 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, his impact was undeniable. But here's the kicker: Walter Davis became the only athlete in history to hold both an NBA championship ring and an Olympic gold medal in track and field. Now that is a legacy worth celebrating!

Continue Reading: Suns Legend Walter Davis inducted to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

📝 Highlighted Stories!

1. Days After Shocking Ravens, Track Star Quincy Wilson Gets Special Gift From NFL Team - Full Story

2. USA Track Athlete Breaks 33-Year-Old World Record After Stunning Marathon Gold Win- Full Story

3. Noah Lyles Celebrates Coco Gauff’s Major Career Milestone After Giving Life-Changing Advice - Full Story

4. Unavoidable Dilemma Nearly Forced Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to Take a Step Back in Her Career - Full Story

5. Letsile Tebogo Sends Warning to Rivals with 4-Word Message Ahead of Track Return - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

💌 FEEDBACK