Unit 104 | Lesson 1

b. 1962. In her autobiography, Jackie Joyner-Kersee describes humble beginnings. Jackie's parents were very young when they married. Jackie, her parents, paternal grandmother, and three siblings shared a home in East St. Louis, Illinois. Jackie grew up in a neighborhood that had strong community ties yet was plagued with violence.

At age ten, through a program at the Mary E. Brown Community Center, Jackie began training and competing in track and field events. Jackie's stellar athletic performances in high school brought her attention and an opportunity to attend college. Jackie was offered college scholarships in both track and basketball. She accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jackie's college coach, Bob Kersee encouraged her to train and compete in multiple events. Jackie eventually quit basketball to train in track and field as an Olympic hopeful. In the 1988 Olympics, Joyner-Kersee won a gold medal in the heptathlon and took the gold medal in the long jump, flying a phenomenal 24 feet, 3.5 inches. In 1992, Jackie took home another Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon and a bronze in the long jump. In the1996 Olympics, Jackie was forced to withdraw from the heptathlon due a hamstring injury. However, she went on to capture the bronze medal in the long jump.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee's professional athletic career spanned two decades. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, through her athletic achievements, has earned the title of the "world's greatest female athlete.” Among many notable accomplishments, she won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals over four consecutive Olympic games. Joyner-Kersee was the first woman to earn more than 7,000 points in the Olympic heptathlon. She continues to hold the world record in the heptathlon: 7,291 points. She also holds the Olympic and national records in the long jump. These accomplishments and the example of her life make Jackie Joyner-Kersee a hero, a humanitarian, a symbol of strength and courage, an overcomer, an achiever, and a role model for our youth.

Not as heavily publicized, Jackie has also stood out as a philanthropist through her generosity, kind spirit, and dedication to the development of young people, particularly in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. She established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Community Foundation in 1988. In 1997, the Foundation joined with the East St. Louis Youth Center Foundation to form the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation, of which Jackie serves as chairperson. The Foundation has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs to create the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys & Girls Club. The Foundation and Boys & Girls Club serve the citizens of East St. Louis.