When I was in middle school, I used to sit next to a girl who had one leg that was shorter than her other. When we both tried out for the basketball team, I didn't think she'd have a chance. Wrong! On the day of the tryouts, she surprised everyone with her dribbling and shooting skills. It was my first lesson in not judging a book by its cover. My second lesson came when I saw the movie about runner Wilma Rudolph.
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was the 20th child of 22. A Tennessee native, she suffered from several illnesses: scarlet fever, pneumonia and polio. These illnesses led to the crippling of one of her legs. Sadly, for the first 9 years of her life, Wilma's days were dim. Yet one day, her circumstances changed. She got a leg brace. What happened next? She turned into one of the world's greatest runners.
After getting a device to strengthen her leg, Wilma Rudolph turned into a runner. By age 12, she was the fastest runner in her school. By age 16, she participated in her first Olympics and won the bronze medal in the 4 x100 meter. By the 1960s, Rudolph was the first woman to receive three gold medals. Shortly afterward she retired. It was the height of her career.
Wilma Rudolph's life truly exemplifies a book that started off sorrowful but ended with joy. I guess you can never look at a person's circumstances and say what they will do in life - not even your own.
Wow. Pretty inspirational story. Thanks for sharing.