Wilma Rudolph was born in a poor family in Tennessee. At the age of four, she had pneumonia with scarlet fever which left her paralyzed with polio. She had to wear a brace and the doctor said she would never put her foot on earth. But her mother encouraged her. She told Wilma that with God-given ability, persistence and faith she could do anything she wanted. Wilma said, "I want to be the fastest woman runner in the world." At the age of nine, against the advice of the doctor, she removed the brace and took the first step. At the age of 13, she entered her first race and came way, way last. And then she entered her second, and third, and fourth races, and came way, way last until a day came when she came in first.