Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.

Route 79 in Clarksville Tennessee between the Interstate 24 exit 4 in Clarksville to the Red River (Lynnwood-Tarpley) bridge near the Kraft Street intersection was renamed to honor Wilma Rudolph. On July 14 2004 the United States Postal Service issued a 23 cent DistinguiWilma Rudolphd Americans series postage stamp in recognition of her accomplishments. A track and field champion Wilma Rudolph elevated women's track to a major presence in the United States.

As a member of the black community Wilma Rudolph is also regarded as a civil rights and women's rights pioneer. In the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games.