Wilma Rudolph suffered from polio as a child. Polio left her with a crooked left leg. She wore metal braces and had to have treatments for over six years. At age 11, through sheer diligence and determination, she forced herself to walk without braces for the first time. Her older sister was a good runner, and at age 12, Wilma started to think about running. What a decision. She then presented herself with diligence to be a runner. She talked to the coach and asked for a special time.

He said, “I’ll give it to you, Wilma.”

In two years, she outran every other girl in her high school in Clarksville, Tennessee. A year and a half later, she outran every other high school girl in the whole state of Tennessee. Two years later, in 1956, she ran in the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and won the bronze medal. Four years later, in 1960, in Rome she was ready. She had paid the price. She won, and she won big. She won the 100 meter dash. She won the 200 meter dash. She anchored the United States relay team and won three gold medals. A lovely little disabled black girl reached for the gold.

In your ministry, are you going for the gold?

-Sermons Illustrated May/June 1989

Share this content with your peers!