Full Name
Date of Birth
March 3, 1962
Place of Birth
East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Date of Death
Still alive as of current date
Place of Death
Not applicable
Education
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Spouses Names
Children Names
No record of children
Parents Names
Not specified
Known Affiliates Names
Affiliated Organizations’ Names
USA Track & Field, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, Athletes for Hope
Achievements
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is widely celebrated as one of the greatest female athletes in history, with a record-breaking career that includes three Olympic gold medals, a silver, and two bronze in heptathlon and long jump across four Olympic Games. She holds the world record in the women’s heptathlon with 7,291 points. As a four-time Olympian, Joyner-Kersee secured the long jump gold medal in 1988, and bronze medals in 1992 and 1996, in addition to her Olympic heptathlon silver in 1984 and gold in 1988. Her success extended to the World Outdoor Championships where she earned gold medals in the long jump in 1987 and 1991, and in the heptathlon in 1987 and 1993. Sports Illustrated for Women honored her as the greatest female athlete of the 20th century.
Social Contributions
Following her retirement from competitive sports, Jackie Joyner-Kersee has been deeply involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly focusing on youth in her hometown through the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation. She founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, both dedicated to providing opportunities for young people in the East St. Louis area to excel in academics, athletics, and leadership. In 1988, she established her namesake foundation to enhance the quality of life for children, adults, and families by promoting access to after-school programs and safe community spaces. As a co-founder of Athletes for Hope in 2007, she has encouraged professional athletes to engage in charitable work. Joyner-Kersee is also an advocate for education, racial equality, social reform, and women’s rights.
Citations: [1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jackie-Joyner-Kersee [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Joyner-Kersee [3] https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/jackie-joyner-kersee [4] https://www.biography.com/athletes/jackie-joyner-kersee [5] https://olympics.com/en/athletes/jackie-joyner-kersee [6] https://usopm.org/jackie-joyner-kersee/ [7] https://www.ducksters.com/sports/jackie_joyner-kersee.php [8] https://www.stonybrook.edu/5questions/people/jackie-joyner-kersee