| Some people may not know the inspiring story of | | | | International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1974, she |
| Althea Gibson, who would in 1957, become the | | | | was inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame, |
| first African-American (man or woman) tennis | | | | and in 1983, she was inducted into the South |
| player to win the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, | | | | Carolina Hall of Fame. In 1984, she was inducted |
| but those that have heard her heroic story, know | | | | into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, so Gibson |
| that it is one you will never forget. Wilma Rudolph | | | | indeed has a lot to show for her commitment to |
| was a proud champion, who in the 1960 Olympics | | | | the game of tennis. Gibson is an excellent person |
| Games, became the first American woman to | | | | for anyone to read about because she has |
| capture three track & field gold medals, and | | | | overcome so much in her lifetime, and has fulfilled |
| claimed the title of the world's fastest woman. | | | | so many dreams |
| Langston was a great poet, who had several | | | | As many people already know, Wilma Rudolph |
| books of poetry published, and also, won several | | | | was great sprinter, who defeated many odds. |
| awards for his poetry. All three of these great | | | | Many odds that said she would never be able to |
| figures in history inspire so many people, and | | | | compete in the Olympics as a sprinter. Many odds |
| illustrate how hard-work and dedication can get | | | | that said she would never be able to even run |
| you very far in life. | | | | track because of her disability. As a child, Wilma |
| Althea Gibson was no doubt an excellent tennis | | | | battled scarlet fever, double-pneumonia and was |
| player, and she was while growing-up, things were | | | | unable to walk without wearing leg braces. To help |
| not always easy. She battled many odds that | | | | Wilma deal with her disability issue, different |
| were put against her, but she still overcame those | | | | people in her family would take turns administering |
| odds greatness. As a child, her family was on | | | | leg massages, and the leg massages conditioned |
| welfare, and she would frequently miss school | | | | her legs enough for her to be able to walk by age |
| because of different issues. On several occasions, | | | | 11 with specially made shoes. Wilma would |
| she would even run away from home, and even | | | | eventually outgrow the need to walk with |
| through all this adversity, she still found time to | | | | assistance of her specially made shoes, and would |
| play paddle tennis at a nearby recreation center, | | | | be able to walk normally. |
| and this is where her talent for tennis was first | | | | Rudolph began her track- and- field legacy as a |
| noticed. | | | | sophomore in high-school. While in high-school, she |
| In the 1930's, Buddy Walker was a well-known | | | | was a undefeated sprinter in each of her track |
| musician, and he was one of the first people to | | | | meets. In 1957, she attended Tennessee State |
| notice Gibson's talent with paddle tennis. He | | | | University, and while attending TSU, she broke |
| thought Gibson was so talented with paddle | | | | many records as a sprinter, gained national |
| tennis, so he introduced her to Dr. Walter | | | | attention. In the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph tied the |
| Johnson, who was very active in the black | | | | 100-meter dash world record of 11.3 seconds. |
| community with tennis. Dr. Johnson was a local | | | | She also set an Olympic record in the 200-meter |
| physician, but he still found time to be involved in | | | | dash. She would even set a world record as |
| the tennis community, and he would occasionally | | | | anchor for the 400-meter relay team. In 1960, |
| give Gibson tennis lessons. | | | | Rudolph was named U.S. Female Athlete of the |
| Through charity and donations, the youthful | | | | Year, and won United Press Athlete of the Year |
| Gibson would eventually become a member of | | | | honors. Rudolph's remarkable story of overcoming |
| the Harlem Cosmopolitan Tennis Club, which was | | | | the odds is definitely one to admire, because as a |
| a club strictly for African-Americans. As a | | | | child, she faced three problems, but still had the |
| member of the tennis club, Gibson flourished as a | | | | will power to accomplish great feats, that will |
| player. In 1942, Gibson's strong determination | | | | forever be known in history. |
| would soon lead her into winning the girls' singles | | | | Langston Hughes is undeniably one of the most |
| title at the American Tennis Association's New | | | | prominent African American writers of the Harlem |
| York State Tournament. She would repeat again | | | | Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a |
| as champion in 1944 and '45. In 1946, with the | | | | cultural movement where African American arts |
| support of sponsors, Gibson moved to | | | | flourished and inspired so many people. Hughes |
| Wilmington, NC for tennis training, and in 1947, at | | | | wrote so much influential literature in that day and |
| the age of 20, she would win the first of 10 | | | | age. In fact, some of the literature he wrote in |
| consecutive national championships sponsored by | | | | the Harlem Renaissance is still read today. |
| the American Tennis Association (ATA). | | | | The Renaissance took place in the 1920's, and the |
| In 1951, at the age of 23, Gibson made her first | | | | early 30's. In 1925, Hughes won a poetry contest |
| appearance at the British Championships in | | | | with Opportunity magazine, which was a local |
| London, England, also known as Wimbledon. Her | | | | magazine in the Harlem area. A year later, his first |
| journey from the cruel streets of Harlem, NY, to | | | | book "The Weary Blues" was published. Hughes |
| the royal courts of Wimbledon illustrates her | | | | then had a host of other publications in the late |
| strong desire to never lose hope, and along with | | | | 20's and early 30's. Aside from Hughes' |
| playing tennis, Gibson still stayed active in her | | | | publications, the Renaissance gave new life to the |
| studies at Florida A&M University (FAMU). In | | | | Harlem city because a variety of others writers |
| 1953, Gibson graduated from FAMU, and later | | | | wrote great pieces of literature. |
| moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, and worked as | | | | Writers like Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, and a |
| an athletic instructor at Lincoln University. | | | | host of other writers, but Hughes had a special |
| In 1957, Gibson won the women's singles and | | | | gift with his literature. To so many people, he was |
| doubles championship at Wimbledon, therefore | | | | considered a "literary genius." He sometimes |
| making her the first African-American to ever | | | | wrote literature, that inspired others blacks to |
| achieve such a feat, and in recognition of her | | | | never lose hope for a better future. During this |
| achievement -and for being African-American - | | | | time, racial prejudice and lynching were at an |
| the city of New York welcomed her home with a | | | | all-time high. |
| parade. In 1958, she would again win both the | | | | Aside from all this hysteria, that was taking place |
| singles and doubles title at Wimbledon. Later that | | | | during the Renaissance, Hughes kept writing |
| year, Gibson would have an autobiography | | | | brilliant pieces of literature, and his remarkable |
| published in her honor. The autobiography was | | | | literature can still be read today. |
| titled "I Always Wanted to Be Somebody," and it | | | | All three of the stories relate because they all |
| described her childhood dreams in Harlem, and her | | | | illustrate how dedication and hard-work can give |
| aspirations on the tennis court. Gibson received | | | | you the strength to achieve success. All three of |
| many honors for her commitment to tennis. | | | | the stories also exemplify how if a person |
| In the 1970's, Gibson served in various national | | | | devotes themselves to one particular thing, they |
| and New Jersey positions in tennis and recreation, | | | | can overcome many goals. Every reader of this |
| therefore receiving many honors for her | | | | article should believe that they have the mind and |
| commitment. In 1971, she was inducted into the | | | | body to conquer any challenge they may face. |
| National Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame, and in the | | | | Always believe in yourself. |
| same year, she was inducted into the | | | | |
