Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

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The Brave Hearts
wearing these special boots but she was not satisfied with this progress. She had the urge to play and make fun like any other child of her age. Nevertheless, at the age of 11, she started playing basket ball and at the age of 15 she was selected for the team to represent her state in this game.
Once Edward Temple, the physical and games instructor of her school, was asked to select a team of runners from among the school children. He selected Wilma as well as other team-mates. Soon this basketball player became famous as a runner too.
In the year 1956, the World Olympic Games were organised in the city of Melbourne in Australia. Wilma participated in them but could not succeed in any event, facing the battery of experienced competitors. Yet she was not disappointed by her performance. She had inherited some good qualities from her mother, one of which was to work hard.
Thereafter Wilma went on facing one difficulty or the other. In the year 1957, no competitions were held so that that year proved to be a lean year for her. In 1958, she fell ill. In the year 1959 the All American Games and Sports were held in which she participated in spite of a strained muscle and won first position in the 100 metre-race.
She then went to participate in the World Olympic Games held in Rome in the year 1960. She was only 20 years, two months and 16 days in age then. She was suffering from tonsillitis during those days but her prowess did not prevent her from winning one gold medal after another, her total tally being three gold medals in the games. By winning the gold in the 100 metres race, she became the fastest runner in the world. That was followed by a gold medal in the 200 metres race and then a third gold in the 4 X 100 relay race. Thus she became the queen of the Olympic Games. She had not only won the gold
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