Ruthie Bolton is one of the most accomplished female athletes in the world. She is a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist, a USA Basketball Female of the Year, the Sports Illustrated Best Woman Athlete by home state, and one of only 4 players to be named in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2011. It may be surprising to learn that Ruthie was told “you can’t do it” before every major milestone of her athletic career.
“Mighty Ruthie” Bolton was the original franchise player for the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs. She has scored over 2000 career points, she is 4th on the WNBA’s all-time 3 pointer list, and she is the only player in the history of the Monarchs to have her number retired.
She has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she has been a guest on Regis Philbin and David Letterman, and she has even done a Nike commercial. But, Ruthie believes that her gifts are to be used for a higher purpose: to inspire others to let their light shine and perform at their best. “If I am only remembered for being a basketball player, I believe that I will have failed in my job on this planet,” says Ruthie, who makes a daily practice of encouraging others in her life, and in her message to the world.
Ruthie’s off-the-court accomplishments include being a 1st Lieutenant in the Army, the first National Spokeswoman for the WNBA’s “Play Fit/Stay Fit” youth development program, the release of her first Gospel CD single “Making a Way”, and being 16th in a very close family of 20 children.
Ruthie is a highly sought after speaker. Some of her favorite messages include: