Hello and welcome to Daily English. As it’s the weekend, we learn English through real stories. You can find the full transcript in the description. Today’s story is about a girl who went from struggling to walk to becoming the fastest woman in the world. Let’s hear the story of Wilma Rudolph.
What Happened? Wilma Rudolph was born in Tennessee in 1940, into a poor family — the 20th of 22 children. As a child, she suffered from pneumonia, scarlet fever, and then polio, which left her left leg weak and twisted. Doctors said she might never walk again. But Wilma didn’t accept that. Her mother took her on long trips to receive treatment. At home, her brothers and sisters helped her do daily therapy. Slowly, Wilma began to crawl, then walk with a brace — and finally, run. By high school, she had joined the track team. At age 16, she won a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics. Four years later, at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Wilma won three gold medals — in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay. She became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. From a child who couldn’t walk… to the fastest woman in the world. She didn’t just succeed — she rose above everything that tried to hold her back.
Phrase of the Day: Rise Above To rise above means: To overcome a problem, pain, or challenge — and stay strong without giving up.
Examples: Wilma Rudolph rose above poverty, illness, and doubt — and became an Olympic champion.
He rose above the negative comments and kept sharing his artwork with confidence.
She rose above the disappointment and gave her best in the final round.
Question for You: Can you think of a time when you — or someone you admire — had to rise above a difficult situation?