This geocache is to celebrate the three gold medals that Wilma Rudolph won, on what would have been her 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of the 1960 Olympic Games. This is one in a set of three geocaches in honor of Wilma’s three gold medals.
The location of these three geocaches is the Wilma Rudolph Event Center, a beautiful location in Clarksville. Take some time to look around, enjoy the local pond, walking path, nearby picnic area, marina, and playground. Geocache is a small container with just a log sheet.
Wilma Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem (Clarksville) Tennessee, the 20th of 22 children! Stricken with double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio as a child, she had problems with her legs and had to wear a brace. It was with great determination and physical therapy that she was able to overcome her disabilities.
Growing up as an African American woman in the segregated South, Wilma attended the all-black Burt High School, where she played on the basketball team. A naturally gifted runner, she trained with Tennessee State University track coach, Ed Temple.
Nicknamed "Skeeter", Wilma competed in the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. She was the youngest member of the U.S. track and field team at age 16. She won a bronze medal in the 400-meter relay. After finishing high school, Wilma enrolled at Tennessee State University.
The 1960 Olympic Games were held in Rome, Italy. Wilma ran the 100-meter dash in 11.0 seconds and won the gold medal. Similarly, Wilma broke the Olympic record and claimed another gold medal in the 200-meter dash with her time of 24.0 seconds. She was also part of the U.S. team that won gold medal by running the 400-meter relay in 44.5 seconds.
Wilma was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympic Games. She instantly became an international superstar, applauded for her groundbreaking achievements. Wilma refused to attend a segregated parade planned by the governor of Tennessee in Nashville and instead, Wilma’s parade was the first integrated event in her hometown of Clarksville. Wilma inspired young African-American female athletes. Most notable was Florence Griffith Joyner, the next woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics (1988).
The three locations of the geocaches are:
N 36° 30.303 W 087° 22.242
N 36 30.209 W 87 22.250
N 36 30.194 W 87 22.359
Permission received from Clarksville Parks and Recreation on 05/06/2020 to place this geocache.
Congratulations to Krazy Kraut for the FTF!