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Pistons of Power
She arrived at this conclusion many years ago when she was faced with a limitation so severe that just living a normal life seemed an impossibility. Her story has been told on TV, in books and movies. It's one you might be familiar with . . . but think of your situation as you read. Wilma was born the twentieth child in an African American family of twenty-two in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1940. A weak and sickly infant, born prematurely, she was continually afflicted with childhood diseases. At age four she contracted polio, and the doctor said she would never walk again. Until age nine she was unable to walk without wearing a steel leg brace and it was necessary for her to continue wearing a special supportive shoe until age eleven. During the late 1940's it was difficult enough just being black and poor, but add to that the stigma of being what many people called "a cripple" and this child seemed destined to an unenviable existence. Both Wilma and her mother, however, refused to believe the doctor's prognosis. They did not accept the view that fate is something you must resign yourself to. They believed, rather, that people have unlimited potential. Together they began an improvement program for those skinny, wobbly legs. Her mother rode the bus with her 50 miles each way, twice a week, to the nearest hospital that would treat black patients. Soon Wilma was walking on her own. With renewed determination, she began strengthening her legs even further, and before long she could outrun every kid on the block . . . and soon, every kid in the city, in the state, and even in the nation! Her strength and determination helped her to lead her high school basketball team to the state championships. At age 16 Wilma qualified for the U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 1956 Games at Melbourne, Australia where she won a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash. No longer were her legs the frail, polio-stricken limbs she grew up on. Wilma had transformed them into pistons of power! Four years later she again made the Olympic team and in the 1960 Olympic Games at Rome she won three gold medals . . . for the 100 and 200-meter events, as well as the 400-meter relay! In all three races Wilma Rudolph set new Olympic and world records -- the first woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics, thereby establishing herself as THE FASTEST WOMAN ON EARTH. More than that, she set an astonishing example of how limitations can be conquered.
Wilma passed away in 1994. Ten years later a postage stamp was created in her honor. Her story is proof that determination can overcome almost any disadvantage. Here's what
you can do: Don't accept the limitations others may try to force upon you. While the scoffers and sneerers are saying, "You can't," "It won't work," and "That's impossible," the Wilma's of the world will be doing it! When you think "pistons of power" in your own life, you'll tap some of that amazing potential that's just begging to be released! © JOEL H. WELDON & ASSOCIATES, INC. http://www.SuccessComesInCans.com ® |
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| SLPowers | 1254 Okeechobee Road | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 | www.slpowers.com |
What
limitation, right now, seems to be keeping you from doing
something you want to do? Regardless of your answer, there's
a person who would vehemently disagree with you. She proved
that whatever it is you think you can't do, you actually
can! 
When
asked how she did it, Wilma answered, "No one has a life
where everything that happens is good. I think the thing
that made my life good for me is that I never looked back.
I've always been positive no matter what happened!"