Jean L. S. Patrick - Long-Armed Ludy and the First Womens Olympics

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123

Based on the True Story of Lucile Ellerbe Godbold

Jean L. S. Patrick

Illustrated by Adam Gustavson

N o one really knows how Ludys arms got so long .

Maybe too much

tug-o-warrin

with the dogs ...

Maybe too much haulin

water to the hogs .. .

Or maybe too much swingin

from the tree branches with

all her sisters and brothers

hangin on .

Come to think of it ,

maybe thats what made

Ludys arms so strong .

When Ludy set off for Winthrop College in 1917 , she was six

feet tall and skinnier than a Carolina pine . In fact , if she turned

sideways , youd think she had disappeared .

But you could always spot Ludy on the athletic field...

Sprintin ...

Scorin ...

Cheerin ...

Supportin ...

In every sport , Ludy used her long arms to

encourage her teammates .

During her final year on the track team , Ludy tried the shot put .

Give it a ride , urged Coach Bartlett .

Ludy scooped up the heavy iron ball and placed it between her

fingers . She bent her knees , pushed her long arm upward , and

released ! The ball soared across the sky .

Her heart boomed . Her long arm tingled . She loved the

explosion of power .

So Ludy trained to become a shot-putter . Every muscle needed

to be strong .

She lifted dumbbells til her arms turned to noodles . She ran til

her toes cried for mercy . And she did so many leg squats that her

feet disappeared in the dust .

She wanted to become a champion .

All that liftin and runnin and squattin paid off . At a Winthrop

College track meet in the spring of 1922 , Ludy surprised everyone .

She set an American record in the shot put with a throw of feet ,

inches .

And before you could say Carolina cannonball , Ludy and

Coach Bartlett hopped on a train . They headed north to an

important track meet in New York .

There , the best athletes would try out for an international meet

called the Womens Olympics .

When they arrived at the tryout meet , more than a hundred

women were runnin and jumpin and throwin . Ludy eyed the

muscular shot-putters . Did she even have a chance ?

Give it a ride , urged Coach Bartlett .

Ludy placed the iron ball between her fingers . She focused .

Pushed ! Released !

The officials measured . The announcer boomed . feet ,

inches ! Miss Lucile Godbold has set a new American record !

Coach Bartlett flung her clipboard into the clouds .

You won ! she cried . Youre headed to the Womens Olympics

in Paris , France !

Ludy whooped , Ooh la la !

But Ludys smile soon sagged .

Id love to go to the Womens Olympics , she told Coach

Bartlett . Id be honored right down to the tips of my toes . But I just

dont have the money .

The train ride back to South Carolina was quiet .

When they arrived at Winthrop College , nearly thirteen hundred

women welcomed Ludy home , cheerin and stompin til the floor

sprouted splinters .

Ludy was stunned . She couldnt bear to tell them the bad news .

So she pushed out a smile ... and kept on training .

More liftin , more runnin . More squattin , more puttin .

Sweat dribbled down Ludys ankles and into her old shoes .

More than anything she wanted to go to the Womens Olympics .

But how would she come up with the money ? It would be impossible .

Ludy cradled the iron ball in her hands . It felt as heavy as the

world . Maybe even heavier . But Ludy hung on .

One morning Ludy ran past President Johnsons office.

He opened the door and whooshed her inside .

Good news ! he said . Winthrops thirteen hundred

students and teachers are donating money so you can go

to France .

Ludys skinny backside nearly slipped off the chair . Shed

be going to the Womens Olympics !

I promise to win , she vowed . Not just for myself , but

for everyone helping me .

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