Betty crossing the finish with a big smile In 1928 Robinson represented the United States at the Amsterdam, Netherlands Summer Games as one of the first female Olympians in the history of the modern games, it was also the first Olympics where a torch was lit and Coca-Cola sponsored. The inclusion of women's sports was still heavily disputed among the officials, but Robinson ignored the negativity and reached the final where she won with another world record-equaling time. At age 17 she was the inaugural Olympic champion in the 100 m event. But her IX Olympiad experience wasn't over. Robinson raced on the American 4 x 100 meters relay team which placed second, adding a silver medal to her collection.

Life seemed to be going perfectly for this bright-eyed smiling athlete. But sometimes that's just when the rug get pulled from underneath our feet or the skies falls on our head. Or in Robinson's case, your plane falls from the sky.In 1931 Betty was involved in a bi-plane crash in Chicago where she sustained a severe concussion, a crushed arm and a broken leg. But it could have been worse. In fact, the guy who discovered her among the wreckage thought she was dead! He carefully carried her to his car and drove her to an undertaker. Imagine his shock when the undertaker said she was indeed not dead but rather in a coma. Robinson awoke from the coma seven months later and spent another six months in a wheelchair with pins in her leg. In an inspiring demonstration of courage, drive and hope Robinson worked for two years to walk normally again, thus missing the 1932 Olympics held in her home country.

But Betty never gave up. Although she was unable to kneel due to her injuries, Robinson headed back to the track and earned a sport on the 1936 Summer Olympics. During the final heat the US squad was running a fierce race just behind the heavily favored Germans, but the crowd gasped when the Germans dropped the baton. This mistake allowed Robinson, who successfully handed off the baton to her teammate Helen Stephens, to win her second Olympic gold. Retiring after the Berlin Olympics, Betty Robinson remained involved in athletics as an official. She later married and lived a long, happy life before passing away at age 87 from cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Live like a Betty Life's "Hard-Knocks 101" courses can be tough and come at less-than-desirable times. But we can all take a lesson from Elizabeth "Betty" Robinson. When the unexpected occurs, just keep running. Keep moving forward and don't give up. Take the time you need to heal and grow stronger from it. Don't quit. Don't become bitter. Dig deep and find the champion inside. Someday someone is either going to write a book or make a movie about this incredibly inspiring woman! Just remember, you read about her here first.