Wilma Rudolph & Andy Stanfield: Olympic Heroes – BMW of Elmhurst Dealer

The Elmhurst Public Library will present Wilma Rudolph & Andy Stanfield: Olympic Heroes, the stories of two Black athletes who beat the odds and became Olympic gold medal winners, on July 20, 2021, at 7 p.m. During this virtual event, storyteller Linda Gorham will explain how Rudolph and Stanfield overcame numerous hardships and challenges to bring home Olympic gold in the mid-20th century. At BMW of Elmhurst, we have always cheered on the U.S. Olympic team, and we’re happy the library is celebrating the achievements of these remarkable American athletes with this program.

Wilma Rudolph suffered from several severe illnesses as a baby and young child, including measles, mumps, scarlet fever, chickenpox, double pneumonia, and polio. While doctors told her family she would never learn to walk, she fully recovered and became a star sprinter. Rudolph won a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics. In 1960, she became the first American woman to win three Olympic gold medals, winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4×100-meter relay.

Andy Stanfield also had a difficult childhood. Raised by an aunt who told him he would never amount to anything, he pushed himself to excel at track and field sports to prove her wrong. Stanfield won gold medals in the 200-meter dash and the 4×100-meter relay at the 1952 Summer Olympics. In 1956, he took home a silver medal for the 200-meter dash.

The stories presented in Wilma Rudolph & Andy Stanfield: Olympic Heroes show that hard work, determination, and believing in oneself can help people overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. The presentation is also the perfect way to get ready for the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Date and Time:
Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 7 p.m.

Location:
Wilma Rudolph & Andy Stanfield: Olympic Heroes is an online Zoom meeting.

Admission:
This event is free. Register at https://tinyurl.com/46wj6c5v to get information on how to join.

For More Information:
Contact [email protected] or call 630-279-8696.