Track star Wilma Rudolph is born in Clarksville, Tennessee.
At a Glance
- Date
- 23 June 1940
- Location
- Clarksville, Tennessee
- Key people
- Wilma Rudolph
- Category
- Sports
- Source
- Olympic records; biographical accounts · Britannica
What It Meant Then
She overcame childhood polio to win three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
What It Means Now
Rudolph became a global symbol of perseverance and Black athletic excellence.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Wilma Rudolph Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wilma-rudolph-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Wilma Rudolph Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wilma-rudolph-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Wilma Rudolph Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wilma-rudolph-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.