As a child with polio, Wilma Rudolph spent her days indoors. Her weakened left leg stopped her from running or even walking without a brace. But by the time she was a teenager, the brace was gone, and she was one of the fastest kids in Tennessee. In 1956, Rudolph helped the United States women's relay team win a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics. Four years later, she won three Olympic gold medals and became an international track-and-field star. Find out how Rudolph overcame polio to become the fastest woman in the world.
Percy Leed writes nonfiction books for children, covering topics from sports to science. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.