Wilma

The spirit and ethos of WIILMA is influenced and embodied by the inspirational African-American athlete Wilma Rudolph (23/6/1940-12/11/1994). In 1960, Wilma overcame childhood illnesses and physical disability to become the fastest runner in the world. The first woman to win three Olympic Gold medals in a single Olympiad. She is regarded as a civil rights and women's rights pioneer causing gender barriers to be broken down at previously all-male track and field events and is on par with Cassius Clay and later Muhammad Ali, who both became global stars with the televising of the Olympic Games. She went on to become an educator and coach before dying suddenly of cancer in 1994. We believe the determination and spirit of Wilma Rudolph is one to be celebrated and her legacy is something our creative movement is proud to be inspired by.