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{{short description|American retired track and field athlete (born 1962)}}
{{MedalTableTopPic|jackie_joyner.jpg|Jackie Joyner at the 1987 World Championship}}
{{pp-move}}
{{MedalSport |Women's [[athletics (track and field)|athletics]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
{{MedalGold| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | Heptathlon}}
| image = Jackie_Joyner-Kersee_Eugene_2014.jpg
{{MedalGold| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's Long Jump|Long jump]]}}
| caption = Joyner-Kersee in 2014
{{MedalGold| [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
| birth_date = Jacqueline Joyner<br />{{birth date and age|1962|3|3}}<ref name="sports-reference.com"/>
{{MedalSilver| [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | Heptathlon}}
| birth_place = [[East St. Louis, Illinois]], U.S.<ref name="sports-reference.com"/>
{{MedalBronze| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's long jump|1992 Barcelona]] | Long jump}}
| height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="sports-reference.com">{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/Jo/Jackie-Joyner-Kersee-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040708/https://www.sports-reference.com/Olympics/athletes/Jo/Jackie-Joyner-Kersee-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref>
{{MedalBronze| [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's long jump|1996 Atlanta]] | Long jump}}
| weight = 154 lb<ref name="sports-reference.com"/>
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
| collegeteam = [[UCLA]] (1980–1985)
{{MedalGold|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|Long jump}}
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
{{MedalGold|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|Heptathlon}}
| club = Tiger World Class Athletic Club<br />West Coast Athletic Club<br />McDonald's Track Club
{{MedalGold |[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics - Women's Long Jump|Long jump]]}}
| event = [[Long jump]], [[heptathlon]]
{{MedalGold |[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics - Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
| country = {{USA}}
{{MedalBottom}}
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport|Women's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{USA}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{Medal|Gold| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze| [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze| [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{Medal|Gold |[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{Medal|Gold |[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Goodwill Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1986 Goodwill Games|1986 Moscow]] | [[Athletics at the 1986 Goodwill Games|Heptathlon&nbsp;]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1990 Goodwill Games|1990 Seattle]] | [[Athletics at the 1990 Goodwill Games|Heptathlon]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1994 Goodwill Games|1994 Saint Petersburg]] | [[Athletics at the 1994 Goodwill Games|Heptathlon]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1998 Goodwill Games|1998 New York]] | [[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Heptathlon]] }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games|Long jump]]}}
}}


'''Jackie Joyner-Kersee''' (born [[March 3]], [[1962]] in [[East St. Louis, Illinois]]) is a retired [[United States|American]] athlete, ranked amongst the all-time greatest in [[heptathlon]] as well as the [[long jump]]. She won three gold, one silver and two bronze [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] medals.
'''Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee''' (born March 3, 1962) is a retired American [[track and field]] athlete who competed in both the [[heptathlon]] and [[long jump]]. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] medals at four different Olympic Games. Joyner-Kersee was also a four-time gold medalist (twice each in heptathlon and long jump) at the [[World Championships in Athletics|world championships]]. Since 1988, she has held the world record for heptathlon.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Jacqueline Joyner was born March 3, 1962, in [[East St. Louis, Illinois]], and was named after [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy]], the [[First Lady of the United States]].<ref name=bio/> As a high school athlete at [[East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School]], she qualified for the finals in the long jump at the 1980 Olympic Trials, finishing 8th behind another high schooler, [[Carol Lewis]].<ref>Hyman, Richard S. (2008) [http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf The History of the United States Olympic Trials Track & Field] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327114422/http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |date=March 27, 2016 }}. USA Track & Field</ref> She was inspired to compete in multi-disciplinary track & field events after seeing a movie about [[Babe Zaharias|Babe Didrikson Zaharias]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Success a Constant Companion for Jackie Joyner-Kersee |date=August 6, 2016 |url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/sports/olympics/success-a-constant-companion-for-jackie-joyner-kersee/83-289687478}}</ref> Didrikson, the track star, basketball player, and pro golfer, was chosen the "Greatest Female Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century. Fifteen years later, ''[[Sports Illustrated for Women]]'' magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of all time, just ahead of Zaharias.
Jackie Joyner was born in [[East St. Louis, Illinois]]. She was named after [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jackie Kennedy]]. She was inspired to compete in multi-discipline events after seeing a 1975 television movie about [[Babe Zaharias|"Babe" Didrikson]]. She attended [[Lincoln High School]].


===UCLA===
===UCLA===
Joyner attended college at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) from 1980 to 1985 where she starred in both track & field and basketball.
Jackie attended college at [[UCLA]], where she starred in both track and [[basketball]] from 1980-1985. In basketball, she played forward and scored more than 1,000 points during her career. She was honored on February 21, 1998 as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women's basketball. <ref name="UCLAMEDIA">UCLA Women's Basketball 2006-2007 Media guide - Copy available at UCLABRUINS.COM</ref>


In basketball, she was a starter at forward for each of her first three seasons (1980–81, 81–82, and 82–83) as well as in her senior (fifth) year, 1984–1985. She had [[Redshirt (college sports)|red-shirted]] during the 1983–1984 academic year to concentrate on the heptathlon for the [[1984 Summer Olympics]]. She scored 1,167 points during her collegiate career, which places her 19th all time for the Bruins games.<ref name="UCLAMEDIA2009">Usc Women's Basketballs all 2009–2010 Media guide – Copy available at uclabruins.com</ref> The Bruins advanced to the West Regional semi-finals of the [[1985 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament]] before losing to eventual runner-up Georgia.<ref name="UCLAMEDIA2009" />
In April 2001, Jackie was voted the "Top Woman Collegiate Athlete of the Past 25 Years." The vote was conducted among the 976 NCAA member schools.<ref>[http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042501aaa.html Jackie Joyner-Kersee Is Named The 'Top Woman Collegiate Athlete Of The Past 25 Years] April 25, 2001. UCLA Bruins official Athletic site</ref>

She was honored on February 21, 1998 as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women's basketball.<ref name="UCLAMEDIA">UCLA Women's Basketball 2006–2007 Media guide – Copy available at uclabruins.com</ref> In April 2001, Joyner-Kersee was voted the "Top Woman Collegiate Athlete of the Past 25 Years." The vote was conducted among the 976 NCAA member schools.<ref>[http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042501aaa.html Jackie Joyner-Kersee Is Named The 'Top Woman Collegiate Athlete Of The Past 25 Years] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102184329/http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042501aaa.html |date=November 2, 2007 }}, April 25, 2001. UCLA Bruins official Athletic site</ref>

In track, Joyner won the Broderick Award (now the [[Honda Sports Award]]) as the nation's best female collegiate track and field competitor in 1983 and in 1985, and was awarded the Honda-Broderick Cup, given to the nation's best female collegiate athlete in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pac-12.com/article/2001/04/25/jackie-joyner-kersee-named-top-woman-collegiate-athlete-past-25-years |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327014911/https://pac-12.com/article/2001/04/25/jackie-joyner-kersee-named-top-woman-collegiate-athlete-past-25-years |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee Is Named The 'Top Woman Collegiate Athlete Of The Past 25 Years' |date=April 25, 2001 |website=Pac-12 Conference|access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/cupwinner_bios/index |title=Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup) |website=CWSA |access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Joyner graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Katie |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee named 2023 commencement speaker |url=https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1958697186 |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=news.illinois.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

===UCLA statistics===
Source<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2016/10/14/16_17WBB_UCLA.pdf |title=UCLA Media Guide |access-date=2017-09-05 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723112231/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2016/10/14/16_17WBB_UCLA.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!Points
!FG%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!SPG
!BPG
!PPG
|-
|1984–85
|UCLA
|29
|'''368'''
|46.5%
|45.9%
|'''9.1'''
|1.4
|'''2.1'''
|0.1
|'''12.7'''
|-
|1982–83
|UCLA
|28
|246
|41.4%
|65.7%
|5.6
|1.8
|1.0
|'''0.2'''
|8.8
|-
|1981–82
|UCLA
|30
|239
|38.1%
|'''67.7%'''
|5.8
|'''2.3'''
|1.3
|0.1
|8.0
|-
|1980–81
|UCLA
|'''34'''
|314
|'''50.6%'''
|63.3%
|4.6
|2.3
|1.2
|0.0
|9.2
|-
|Career Basketball
|UCLA
|121
|1167
|44.4%
|58.5%
|6.2
|2.0
|1.4
|0.1
|9.6
|}


==Competition==
==Competition==
[[File:Jackie Joyner-Kersee 1988b.jpg|thumb|Joyner-Kersee at the 1988 Olympic Trials]]
====1984 Summer Olympics====
Jackie competed in the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in Los Angeles and earned a silver medal in the heptathlon.


====1986 Goodwill Games====
===1984 Summer Olympics===
Joyner competed in the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in Los Angeles and won the silver medal in the [[heptathlon]]. She was the favorite heading into the event,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jazmine |date=2024-07-18 |title=At 1984 Olympics, Jackie Joyner-Kersee chased greatness and became a legend |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/07/18/olympics-track-field-1984-joyner-kersee-legendary/74281119007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801143333/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/07/18/olympics-track-field-1984-joyner-kersee-legendary/74281119007/ |archive-date=2024-08-01 |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> but finished five points behind Australian athlete [[Glynis Nunn]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091215232254/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1984/ATH/womens-heptathlon.html Athletics at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games: Women's Heptathlon]. sports-reference.com</ref> She also placed fifth in the long jump.<ref name=sr/>
Joyner-Kersee was the first woman to score over 7,000 points in a heptathlon event (during the 1986 [[Goodwill Games]]). In [[1986]], she received the [[James E. Sullivan Award]] as the top amateur heptathlete in the United States.


====1988 Summer Olympics====
===1986 Goodwill Games===
Joyner became the first woman to score over 7,000 points in a heptathlon event during the [[1986 Goodwill Games]]. In 1986, she received the [[James E. Sullivan Award]] as the top amateur athlete in the United States.
In the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul, Korea]], Jackie earned gold medals in both the heptathlon and the long jump. At the 1988 Games in Seoul, she set the still-standing heptathlon world record of 7,291 points. The silver and bronze medalists were [[Sabine John]] and [[Anke Vater-Behmer]], both of whom were representing [[East Germany]]. Five days later, she won her second gold, leaping an Olympic record 24-3.5 in the long jump.


====1992 Summer Olympics====
===1988 Summer Olympics===
Now known as Jackie Joyner-Kersee after marrying her coach [[Bob Kersee]],<ref name="latmarriage">Ostler, Scott. (May 12, 1987) [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-12-sp-7522-story.html "Her Marriage Takes Work, and It Works!"].|work=Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.</ref> she entered the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul, Korea]] and earned gold medals in both the heptathlon and the long jump. At the Games, she set the still-standing heptathlon world record of 7,291 points. Five days later, Joyner-Kersee won her second gold medal, leaping to an Olympic record of {{convert|7.40|m|ftin|sp=us|frac=4|abbr=on}} in the long jump.<ref name=sr/> She was the first American woman to earn a gold medal in long jump as well as the first American woman to earn a gold medal in heptathlon.
In the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona, Spain]], Jackie earned her third Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon. She also won the bronze medal in the long jump which was won by friend [[Heike Drechsler]] of [[Germany]].


At the 1988 Games she faced allegations of drug use from Brazilian runner [[Joaquim Cruz]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-29-sp-6085-story.html | title=THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 13 : Unfounded Rumors : Brazil's Cruz Implies Drug Use by U.S. Women, then Tries to Take It Back | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=September 29, 1988 }}</ref> This continued the following season in 1989 when [[Darrell Robinson]] accused Joyner-Kersee's husband and coach, Bobby Kersee, of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.<ref name="Brennan">{{Cite news |last=Brennan |first=Christine |date=1989-09-22 |title=DRUG CLAIMS DENIED BY GRIFFITH JOYNER |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/09/22/drug-claims-denied-by-griffith-joyner/d11c9777-a822-410c-903c-0eb132fb8515/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827234915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/09/22/drug-claims-denied-by-griffith-joyner/d11c9777-a822-410c-903c-0eb132fb8515/ |archive-date=2017-08-27}}</ref> Years later, doping insider [[Victor Conte]] asserted that in 1988 he personally witnessed an Olympic official at the Seoul games notifying Bobby Kersee that Joyner-Kersee had tested positive for PED use.<ref name="Odeven">{{Cite web |last=Odeven |first=Ed |date=2015-08-11 |title=Conte says coverup protected big stars at Seoul Games |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/08/11/more-sports/conte-says-coverup-protected-big-stars-seoul-games/ |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> Joyner-Kersee has consistently maintained that she competed throughout her career without performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>[http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=107 Kersee, Jackie Joyner] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123012/http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=107 |date=September 28, 2007 }} By LaTasha Chaffin Graduate Student, [[Grand Valley State University]].</ref><ref>Joyner-Kersee, Jackie, and Sonja Steptoe. A Kind of Grace . New York: Warner Brothers Books, 1997. {{ISBN|0-446-52248-1}}.</ref>
====1996 Summer Olympics====
At the Olympic Trials, Jackie sustained an injury to her right hamstring. When the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] began, Jackie was not fully recovered by the time the heptathlon started. After running the first event, the 100m hurdles, the pain was unbearable and she withdrew. She was able to recover well enough to compete in the long jump and qualify for the final, but was in sixth place in the final with one jump remaining. Her final jump, of 22' 11 3/4", was long enough for her to take the bronze medal. The Atlanta Olympics would be the last Olympics of Jackie's career.


===1991 World Championships===
====Professional Basketball Career====
In 1996 she signed on to play pro basketball for the [[Richmond Rage]] of the fledgling [[American Basketball League (1996-1998)|American Basketball League]]. Although she was very popular with the fans, she was less successful on the court. She appeared in only 17 games, and scored no more than four points in any game.


During the long jump event at the 1991 World Championships, having already won with a {{convert|7.32|m|ftin|sp=us|frac=4|abbr=on}} jump, Joyner-Kersee slipped on the take-off board and careened headfirst into the pit. She strained a hamstring and subsequently pulled out of the heptathlon during the 200 m at the end of the first day.
====1998 Goodwill Games====
Returning to track, Joyner-Kersee won the heptathlon again at the 1998 [[Goodwill Games]]), scoring 6,502 points.


====2000 Olympic Trials====
===1992 Summer Olympics===

Joyner-Kersee made her final bow in track & field competition in 2000. She was sixth in the long jump (21-10.75) at the Olympic Trials, closing one of the greatest careers in U.S. track & field history.
In the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona, Spain]], Joyner-Kersee earned her second Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon. She also won the bronze medal in the long jump which was won by her friend [[Heike Drechsler]] of Germany.<ref name=sr/>
took steroids

===1996 Summer Olympics===

At the Olympic Trials, Joyner-Kersee sustained an injury to her right hamstring. When the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]] began, Joyner-Kersee was not fully recovered by the time the heptathlon started. After running the first event, the 100 m hurdles, she withdrew due to pain.<ref name=bio/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090725190729/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1996/ATH/womens-heptathlon.html Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Women's Heptathlon]. sports-reference.com</ref> She was able to recover to compete in the long jump; her final jump of {{convert|7.00|m|ftin|sp=us|frac=4|abbr=on}} was vaulted into the bronze medal position. The TV never showed a replay of Joyner-Kersee's final long jump attempt neither of the last step, raising serious doubts about its validity, particularly by runner-up Niki Xanthou.<ref>https://athletestories.gr/xanthou-niki-to-alma-tis-zoes-mou Niki Xanthou, the long jump of my life (Interview in Greek).</ref>

===Professional basketball career===

In 1996 Joyner-Kersee signed to play pro basketball for the [[Richmond Rage]] of the fledgling [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|American Basketball League]]. She appeared in 17 games, with a high of 15 points scored.<ref name=bio/>

===1998 Goodwill Games===
Returning to track, Joyner-Kersee won the heptathlon at the 1998 [[Goodwill Games]], scoring 6,502 points.<ref name=bio/>

===2000 Olympic trials===

Two years after retiring, Joyner-Kersee tried to qualify for the long jump event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She placed sixth in the trials at 21–10 ¾, and did not make the Olympic team.<ref name=bio/><ref name=NYT2000>{{cite news |title=After two fouls, it's clear sailing for Jones |first=Jere |last=Longman |date=July 17, 2000 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/17/sports/olympics-the-road-to-sydney-after-two-fouls-it-is-clear-sailing-for-jones.html}}</ref>

==Post-athletic career==
Joyner-Kersee is a philanthropist in children's education, racial equality and women's rights.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerylbrunner/2017/10/06/legendary-track-and-field-olympian-jackie-joyner-kersee-shares-the-best-advice-shes-ever-gotten/#12d7be173c3a |title=Legendary Track and Field Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee Shares The Best Advice She's Ever Gotten |last=Brunner |first=Jeryl |work=Forbes |access-date=2018-02-18 }}</ref> She is a founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which encourages young people in [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] to pursue athletics and academics.<ref name=":0" /> She collaborated with [[Comcast]] to create the Internet Essentials program in 2011, which provides high-speed internet access to low-income Americans.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.insightnews.com/2017/09/19/four-million-low-income-americans-have-crossed-the-digital-divide-through-comcasts-internet-essentials-program/ |title=Four million low-income Americans have crossed the digital divide through Comcast's Internet Essentials program |website=www.insightnews.com |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090903/http://www.insightnews.com/2017/09/19/four-million-low-income-americans-have-crossed-the-digital-divide-through-comcasts-internet-essentials-program/ |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Nancy |last=Dahlberg |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/technology/article167226857.html |title=Miami's low-income seniors and youth to benefit as Comcast expands Internet access |date=August 15, 2017 |work=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815065420/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/technology/article167226857.html |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007, Joyner-Kersee was one of the co-founders of [http://www.athletesforhope.org Athletes for Hope], a charitable organization that helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athletesforhope.org/ |title=Athletes for Hope |publisher=Athletes for Hope |access-date=April 11, 2012}}</ref>

She served{{when|date=August 2024}} on the board of directors for [[USA Track & Field]] the national governing body of the sport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usatf.org/News/USATF-Board-welcomes-three-new-members.aspx |title=USA Track & Field – USATF Board welcomes three new members |date=January 23, 2012 |publisher=Usatf.org |access-date=April 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424204517/http://www.usatf.org/News/USATF-Board-welcomes-three-new-members.aspx |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
[[File:Jackie Joyner Kersee 1996.jpg|thumb|Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1996 book signing]]
* 1983 Broderick Award (now [[Honda Sports Award]])<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Harrington |first=Geri |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee : champion athlete |date=1995 |publisher=Chelsea House Publishers |isbn=0-7910-2085-1 |location=New York |pages=64 |oclc=31207061}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |url=https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/trackfield |title=Track & Field |website=CWSA |access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref>
* 1985 Broderick Award (now [[Honda Sports Award]])<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* 1986 [[James E. Sullivan Award]]
* 1986 [[Jesse Owens Award]]<ref name=JOA>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090304192040/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/awards/TF/JesseOwensAward.asp Jesse Owens Award] usatf.org</ref>
* 1987 [[Jesse Owens Award]]<ref name=JOA/>
* 1988 [[Missouri Athletic Club]] Jack Buck Awards:<ref>Jack Buck</ref> [https://www.mac-stl.org/Awards/Jack_Buck_Awards Sports Personality of the Year Award and Carl O. Bauer Award]
* 1992 [[List of Phoenix Award winners|George Thomas "Mickey" Leland Award]] from the [[Congressional Black Caucus Foundation]]
* [[World Athletics Awards]]
:: World Athlete of the Year (Women): 1994<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Athletes of the Year |url=https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/651c81d5050f9b2bc0433282.pdf?_gl=1*6hkuqu*_ga*NjYxMTM1NTI5LjE3MTUyMjE3MTY.*_ga_7FE9YV46NW*MTcxNTIyMTcxNS4xLjEuMTcxNTIyMTcyMi4wLjAuMA.. |website=[[World Athletics]] |format=PDF |access-date=}}</ref>
* 1997 [[Jack Kelly Fair Play Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOC/Inside-the-USOC/Awards/Community/Jack-Kelly-Fair-Play |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926083735/http://www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOC/Inside-the-USOC/Awards/Community/Jack-Kelly-Fair-Play |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 26, 2013 |title=Jack Kelly Fair Play Recipients |publisher=TeamUSA.org |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>
* 2000 [[St. Louis Walk of Fame]] inductee<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement |title=St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees |publisher=St. Louis Walk of Fame |access-date=April 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031162946/http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement |archive-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2005 was inducted as a Laureate of [[The Lincoln Academy of Illinois]] and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in the area of Sports<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/4632-2/#toggle-id-11 |title=Laureates by Year – The Lincoln Academy of Illinois |website=The Lincoln Academy of Illinois |access-date=2016-03-07 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204516/http://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/4632-2/#toggle-id-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2010 [[NCAA]] Silver Anniversary Awards honoree
* 2011 [[Dick Enberg]] Award, [[CoSIDA|College Sports Information Director of America (CoSIDA)]]
* 2021 [[Webster University]] [[Doctor of Humane Letters]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Independent |first=Ledger |date=2021-03-24 |title=Maysville resident to receive honorary doctorate |url=https://maysville-online.com/top-stories/189001/maysville-resident-to-receive-honorary-doctorate |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Ledger Independent – Maysville Online |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since 1981, the [[Jesse Owens Award]] has been given by USATF (and before its renaming, TAC) to the United States' track and field athlete of the year. In 1996, the award was split to be given to the top athlete of each gender. In 2013, the female award was renamed the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award. In March 2023, she was inducted into the [[International Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8oP1uJ-TQ |title=2023 International Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Full Program) Official Footage |author=Dr. Robert M. Goldman |website=[[YouTube]] |date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023}}</ref>


==Current world records==
==Current world records==
[[as of 2007|As of August 2007]], Joyner-Kersee holds the world record in heptathlon along with six all time best results and her [[long jump]] record of 7.49 m is second on the long jump all time list. In addition to heptathlon and long jump, she was a world class athlete in [[100 m hurdles]] and [[200 meters]] being [[as of 2006|as of June 2006]] in top 60 all time in those events.
Joyner-Kersee holds the world record in heptathlon along with the top six all-time best results. Her [[long jump]] record of 7.49 m is second on the long jump all-time list.


== Personal bests ==
''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' voted her the greatest female athlete of the 20th century.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|+ '''Performances table during the world record in 1988'''
|- align=center
!'''Event'''
!'''Performance'''
!'''Wind'''
!'''Points'''
!'''Notes'''
|- align=center
| [[100 metres hurdles]]||12.69 s || +0.5&nbsp;m/s || 1172 ||
|- align=center
| [[Long jump]] ||7.27 m || +0.7&nbsp;m/s || 1264 || Heptathlon Best; highest score for a single event
|- align=center
| [[High jump]]||1.86 m || || 1054 ||
|- align=center
| [[200 metres|200 m]] ||22.56 s || +1.6&nbsp;m/s || 1123 ||
|- align=center
| [[Shot put]]||15.80 m |||| 915 ||
|- align=center
| [[Javelin throw]]||45.66 m || || 776 ||
|- align=center
| [[800 metres|800 m]]||2 min 8.51 s || || 987 || PB
|- align=center
| '''Total'''|| || || '''7291''' || '''WR'''
|}


;Personal bests :
Jackie Joyner-Kersee's heptathlon series could be viewed as achieved in an era where performance enhancing, and forbidden, drugs were very common. However Joyner-Kersee always has advocated staying drug-free. She consistently has maintained that she has competed throughout her career without performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>[http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=107 Kersee, Jackie Joyner] By LaTasha Chaffin Graduate Student, [[Grand Valley State University]].</ref><ref>Joyner-Kersee, Jackie, and Sonja Steptoe. A Kind of Grace . New York: Warner Brothers Books, 1997. ISBN 0-4465-2248-1. </ref>
* [[100 metres hurdles]] : 12.61 s
* [[Long jump]] : 7.49 m (still currently #2 all time, 3&nbsp;cm behind the world record and she did it twice)
* [[High jump]] : 1.93 m
* [[200 metres|200 m]] : 22.30 s
* [[Shot put]] : 16.84 m
* [[Javelin throw]] : 50.12 m
* [[800 metres|800 m]] : 2 min 8.51 s

==TV appearances==
In 2000, Joyner-Kersee played herself in an episode of ''[[The Jersey]]'' called "Legacy"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-jersey/legacy-65013/ |title=The Jersey Season 1 Legacy (via TV.Com) |access-date=2018-08-21}}</ref> where Nick Lighter (played by [[Michael Galeota]]) uses a magical jersey by jumping into her body as he is coached by her husband ([[Bob Kersee]] as himself) on how to put the shot for a track and field competition.

In 2023, Joyner-Kersee appeared on the PBS program Groundbreakers, hosted by [[Billie Jean King]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Groundbreakers {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/groundbreakers-1rsodf/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en}}</ref> She and other female athletes had one-on-one discussions about accomplishments in women's sports.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Her brother is Olympic champion [[triple jump|triple jumper]] [[Al Joyner]], who was married to another Olympic champion, the late [[Florence Griffith-Joyner]]. She had a cocker spaniel named after her late sister in law Florence Griffith-Joyner
Jackie's brother is Olympic champion [[triple jump]]er [[Al Joyner]], who was married to Olympic track champion [[Florence Griffith Joyner]]. Jackie married her track coach, [[Bob Kersee]], in 1986.<ref name=bio/><ref name=sr>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/jackie-joyner-kersee-1.html Jackie Joyner-Kersee] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918215103/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/jackie-joyner-kersee-1.html |date=September 18, 2009 }}. Sports Reference</ref>


Joyner-Kersee suffered from severe [[asthma]] throughout her athletic career.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall11/articles/fall11pg9.html |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Living with Asthma |date=Fall 2011 |volume=6 |issue=3 |page=9 |journal=MedlinePlus}}</ref>
==External links==
* {{iaaf name|id=62683|name=Jackie Joyner-Kersee}}
* [http://vm.mtsac.edu/relays/HallFame/Joyner.htm Relays Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/jackie-joyner-kersee.html St. Louis Walk of Fame]
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/1997/jjk.asp USA Track and Field bio]
* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_13367.htm Jackie Joyner-Kersee's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
* [http://uclabruins.cstv.com/genrel/031904aaa.html Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational] Annual track meet event hosted by UCLA honoring her and [[Rafer Johnson]], another outstanding UCLA Olympic gold medalist
* [http://jackiejoyner-kerseefoundation.org The Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation], founded by Jackie and her husband. She also had a hard young life, whitnessing death young, and being born to teenaged parents.


==References==
<br>
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<br>
<ref name=bio>[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/1997/jjk.asp Jackie Joyner-Kersee]. USA Track and Field</ref>
{{start box}}jonathan is the bast
}}


==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF Hall of Fame|id=201}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=jackie-joyner-kersee|old_id=Jackie-Joyner-Kersee|archive=20230720071700}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820174959/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_13367.htm |date=August 20, 2004 |title=Jackie Joyner-Kersee at usolympicteam.com}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|org_archive=20140428115317}}
* [http://jjkfoundation.org The Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation], which helps children and adults in the [[St. Louis metropolitan area|East St. Louis, Illinois/St. Louis, Missouri area]]

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{{Footer Olympic Champions Heptathlon Women}}
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{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in women's 60 m hurdles}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in women's long jump}}
{{Footer US NC Long Jump Women}}
{{Footer US NC Heptathlon Women}}
{{Footer US NC 100m hurdles Women}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
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{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (women)}}
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{{Sullivan Award winners}}
{{IAAF Hall of Fame}}
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{{NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award}}
{{Honda Sports Award}}
{{Footer Collegiate Track Field Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame}}
{{NAACP Image Award – Jackie Robinson Sports Award}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Joymer-Kersee, Jackie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyner-Kersee, Jackie}}
[[Category:Heptathletes]]
[[Category:Long jumpers]]
[[Category:American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes of the United States]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World record holders]]
[[Category:American basketball players]]
[[Category:Sports in St. Louis]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins track and field]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins women's basketball players]]
[[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]]
[[Category:People from St. Clair County, Illinois]]
[[Category:African American sportspeople]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from East St. Louis, Illinois]]

[[Category:Track and field athletes from Illinois]]
[[de:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:American women's basketball players]]
[[et:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:American heptathletes]]
[[es:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:American female long jumpers]]
[[fr:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[hr:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[nl:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[ja:ジャッキー・ジョイナー・カーシー]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[no:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[pl:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[sl:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[sr:Џеки Џојнер-Керси]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[fi:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[sv:Jackie Joyner-Kersee]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics record holders]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Richmond Rage players]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins women's basketball players]]
[[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Track & Field News Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1986 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]

Latest revision as of 14:30, 7 January 2025

Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Joyner-Kersee in 2014
Personal information
BornJacqueline Joyner
(1962-03-03) March 3, 1962 (age 62)[1]
East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
Weight154 lb (70 kg)[1]
Sport
Country United States
SportAthletics
Event(s)Long jump, heptathlon
College teamUCLA (1980–1985)
ClubTiger World Class Athletic Club
West Coast Athletic Club
McDonald's Track Club
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Heptathlon
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Long jump
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Heptathlon
Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles Heptathlon
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Long jump
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Long jump
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rome Long jump
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rome Heptathlon
Gold medal – first place 1991 Tokyo Long jump
Gold medal – first place 1993 Stuttgart Heptathlon
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Moscow Heptathlon 
Gold medal – first place 1990 Seattle Heptathlon
Gold medal – first place 1994 Saint Petersburg Heptathlon
Gold medal – first place 1998 New York Heptathlon
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1987 Indianapolis Long jump

Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee (born March 3, 1962) is a retired American track and field athlete who competed in both the heptathlon and long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals at four different Olympic Games. Joyner-Kersee was also a four-time gold medalist (twice each in heptathlon and long jump) at the world championships. Since 1988, she has held the world record for heptathlon.

Early life

[edit]

Jacqueline Joyner was born March 3, 1962, in East St. Louis, Illinois, and was named after Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States.[2] As a high school athlete at East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School, she qualified for the finals in the long jump at the 1980 Olympic Trials, finishing 8th behind another high schooler, Carol Lewis.[3] She was inspired to compete in multi-disciplinary track & field events after seeing a movie about Babe Didrikson Zaharias.[4] Didrikson, the track star, basketball player, and pro golfer, was chosen the "Greatest Female Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century. Fifteen years later, Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of all time, just ahead of Zaharias.

UCLA

[edit]

Joyner attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1980 to 1985 where she starred in both track & field and basketball.

In basketball, she was a starter at forward for each of her first three seasons (1980–81, 81–82, and 82–83) as well as in her senior (fifth) year, 1984–1985. She had red-shirted during the 1983–1984 academic year to concentrate on the heptathlon for the 1984 Summer Olympics. She scored 1,167 points during her collegiate career, which places her 19th all time for the Bruins games.[5] The Bruins advanced to the West Regional semi-finals of the 1985 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament before losing to eventual runner-up Georgia.[5]

She was honored on February 21, 1998 as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women's basketball.[6] In April 2001, Joyner-Kersee was voted the "Top Woman Collegiate Athlete of the Past 25 Years." The vote was conducted among the 976 NCAA member schools.[7]

In track, Joyner won the Broderick Award (now the Honda Sports Award) as the nation's best female collegiate track and field competitor in 1983 and in 1985, and was awarded the Honda-Broderick Cup, given to the nation's best female collegiate athlete in 1985.[8][9][10]

Joyner graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 1986.[11]

UCLA statistics

[edit]

Source[12]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984–85 UCLA 29 368 46.5% 45.9% 9.1 1.4 2.1 0.1 12.7
1982–83 UCLA 28 246 41.4% 65.7% 5.6 1.8 1.0 0.2 8.8
1981–82 UCLA 30 239 38.1% 67.7% 5.8 2.3 1.3 0.1 8.0
1980–81 UCLA 34 314 50.6% 63.3% 4.6 2.3 1.2 0.0 9.2
Career Basketball UCLA 121 1167 44.4% 58.5% 6.2 2.0 1.4 0.1 9.6

Competition

[edit]
Joyner-Kersee at the 1988 Olympic Trials

1984 Summer Olympics

[edit]

Joyner competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won the silver medal in the heptathlon. She was the favorite heading into the event,[13] but finished five points behind Australian athlete Glynis Nunn.[14] She also placed fifth in the long jump.[15]

1986 Goodwill Games

[edit]

Joyner became the first woman to score over 7,000 points in a heptathlon event during the 1986 Goodwill Games. In 1986, she received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

1988 Summer Olympics

[edit]

Now known as Jackie Joyner-Kersee after marrying her coach Bob Kersee,[16] she entered the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea and earned gold medals in both the heptathlon and the long jump. At the Games, she set the still-standing heptathlon world record of 7,291 points. Five days later, Joyner-Kersee won her second gold medal, leaping to an Olympic record of 7.40 m (24 ft 3+1⁄4 in) in the long jump.[15] She was the first American woman to earn a gold medal in long jump as well as the first American woman to earn a gold medal in heptathlon.

At the 1988 Games she faced allegations of drug use from Brazilian runner Joaquim Cruz.[17] This continued the following season in 1989 when Darrell Robinson accused Joyner-Kersee's husband and coach, Bobby Kersee, of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.[18] Years later, doping insider Victor Conte asserted that in 1988 he personally witnessed an Olympic official at the Seoul games notifying Bobby Kersee that Joyner-Kersee had tested positive for PED use.[19] Joyner-Kersee has consistently maintained that she competed throughout her career without performance-enhancing drugs.[20][21]

1991 World Championships

[edit]

During the long jump event at the 1991 World Championships, having already won with a 7.32 m (24 ft 1⁄4 in) jump, Joyner-Kersee slipped on the take-off board and careened headfirst into the pit. She strained a hamstring and subsequently pulled out of the heptathlon during the 200 m at the end of the first day.

1992 Summer Olympics

[edit]

In the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Joyner-Kersee earned her second Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon. She also won the bronze medal in the long jump which was won by her friend Heike Drechsler of Germany.[15]

1996 Summer Olympics

[edit]

At the Olympic Trials, Joyner-Kersee sustained an injury to her right hamstring. When the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta began, Joyner-Kersee was not fully recovered by the time the heptathlon started. After running the first event, the 100 m hurdles, she withdrew due to pain.[2][22] She was able to recover to compete in the long jump; her final jump of 7.00 m (22 ft 11+1⁄2 in) was vaulted into the bronze medal position. The TV never showed a replay of Joyner-Kersee's final long jump attempt neither of the last step, raising serious doubts about its validity, particularly by runner-up Niki Xanthou.[23]

Professional basketball career

[edit]

In 1996 Joyner-Kersee signed to play pro basketball for the Richmond Rage of the fledgling American Basketball League. She appeared in 17 games, with a high of 15 points scored.[2]

1998 Goodwill Games

[edit]

Returning to track, Joyner-Kersee won the heptathlon at the 1998 Goodwill Games, scoring 6,502 points.[2]

2000 Olympic trials

[edit]

Two years after retiring, Joyner-Kersee tried to qualify for the long jump event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She placed sixth in the trials at 21–10 ¾, and did not make the Olympic team.[2][24]

Post-athletic career

[edit]

Joyner-Kersee is a philanthropist in children's education, racial equality and women's rights.[25] She is a founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which encourages young people in East St. Louis to pursue athletics and academics.[25] She collaborated with Comcast to create the Internet Essentials program in 2011, which provides high-speed internet access to low-income Americans.[25][26][27]

In 2007, Joyner-Kersee was one of the co-founders of Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization that helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.[28]

She served[when?] on the board of directors for USA Track & Field the national governing body of the sport.[29]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1996 book signing
World Athlete of the Year (Women): 1994[33]

Since 1981, the Jesse Owens Award has been given by USATF (and before its renaming, TAC) to the United States' track and field athlete of the year. In 1996, the award was split to be given to the top athlete of each gender. In 2013, the female award was renamed the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award. In March 2023, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.[38]

Current world records

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Joyner-Kersee holds the world record in heptathlon along with the top six all-time best results. Her long jump record of 7.49 m is second on the long jump all-time list.

Personal bests

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Performances table during the world record in 1988
Event Performance Wind Points Notes
100 metres hurdles 12.69 s +0.5 m/s 1172
Long jump 7.27 m +0.7 m/s 1264 Heptathlon Best; highest score for a single event
High jump 1.86 m 1054
200 m 22.56 s +1.6 m/s 1123
Shot put 15.80 m 915
Javelin throw 45.66 m 776
800 m 2 min 8.51 s 987 PB
Total 7291 WR
Personal bests

TV appearances

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In 2000, Joyner-Kersee played herself in an episode of The Jersey called "Legacy"[39] where Nick Lighter (played by Michael Galeota) uses a magical jersey by jumping into her body as he is coached by her husband (Bob Kersee as himself) on how to put the shot for a track and field competition.

In 2023, Joyner-Kersee appeared on the PBS program Groundbreakers, hosted by Billie Jean King.[40] She and other female athletes had one-on-one discussions about accomplishments in women's sports.

Personal life

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Jackie's brother is Olympic champion triple jumper Al Joyner, who was married to Olympic track champion Florence Griffith Joyner. Jackie married her track coach, Bob Kersee, in 1986.[2][15]

Joyner-Kersee suffered from severe asthma throughout her athletic career.[41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jackie Joyner-Kersee". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jackie Joyner-Kersee. USA Track and Field
  3. ^ Hyman, Richard S. (2008) The History of the United States Olympic Trials Track & Field Archived March 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. USA Track & Field
  4. ^ "Success a Constant Companion for Jackie Joyner-Kersee". August 6, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Usc Women's Basketballs all 2009–2010 Media guide – Copy available at uclabruins.com
  6. ^ UCLA Women's Basketball 2006–2007 Media guide – Copy available at uclabruins.com
  7. ^ Jackie Joyner-Kersee Is Named The 'Top Woman Collegiate Athlete Of The Past 25 Years Archived November 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, April 25, 2001. UCLA Bruins official Athletic site
  8. ^ "Jackie Joyner-Kersee Is Named The 'Top Woman Collegiate Athlete Of The Past 25 Years'". Pac-12 Conference. April 25, 2001. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)". CWSA. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Track & Field". CWSA. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Watson, Katie. "Jackie Joyner-Kersee named 2023 commencement speaker". news.illinois.edu. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "UCLA Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  13. ^ Thomas, Jazmine (July 18, 2024). "At 1984 Olympics, Jackie Joyner-Kersee chased greatness and became a legend". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Athletics at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games: Women's Heptathlon. sports-reference.com
  15. ^ a b c d Jackie Joyner-Kersee Archived September 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference
  16. ^ Ostler, Scott. (May 12, 1987) "Her Marriage Takes Work, and It Works!".|work=Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 13 : Unfounded Rumors : Brazil's Cruz Implies Drug Use by U.S. Women, then Tries to Take It Back". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1988.
  18. ^ Brennan, Christine (September 22, 1989). "DRUG CLAIMS DENIED BY GRIFFITH JOYNER". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Odeven, Ed (August 11, 2015). "Conte says coverup protected big stars at Seoul Games". The Japan Times. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Kersee, Jackie Joyner Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine By LaTasha Chaffin Graduate Student, Grand Valley State University.
  21. ^ Joyner-Kersee, Jackie, and Sonja Steptoe. A Kind of Grace . New York: Warner Brothers Books, 1997. ISBN 0-446-52248-1.
  22. ^ Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Women's Heptathlon. sports-reference.com
  23. ^ https://athletestories.gr/xanthou-niki-to-alma-tis-zoes-mou Niki Xanthou, the long jump of my life (Interview in Greek).
  24. ^ Longman, Jere (July 17, 2000). "After two fouls, it's clear sailing for Jones". The New York Times.
  25. ^ a b c Brunner, Jeryl. "Legendary Track and Field Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee Shares The Best Advice She's Ever Gotten". Forbes. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  26. ^ "Four million low-income Americans have crossed the digital divide through Comcast's Internet Essentials program". www.insightnews.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  27. ^ Dahlberg, Nancy (August 15, 2017). "Miami's low-income seniors and youth to benefit as Comcast expands Internet access". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  28. ^ "Athletes for Hope". Athletes for Hope. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  29. ^ "USA Track & Field – USATF Board welcomes three new members". Usatf.org. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  30. ^ a b Harrington, Geri (1995). Jackie Joyner-Kersee : champion athlete. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. p. 64. ISBN 0-7910-2085-1. OCLC 31207061.
  31. ^ a b Jesse Owens Award usatf.org
  32. ^ Jack Buck
  33. ^ "World Athletes of the Year" (PDF). World Athletics.
  34. ^ "Jack Kelly Fair Play Recipients". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  35. ^ "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees". St. Louis Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  36. ^ "Laureates by Year – The Lincoln Academy of Illinois". The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  37. ^ Independent, Ledger (March 24, 2021). "Maysville resident to receive honorary doctorate". Ledger Independent – Maysville Online. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Dr. Robert M. Goldman (March 15, 2023). "2023 International Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Full Program) Official Footage". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  39. ^ "The Jersey Season 1 Legacy (via TV.Com)". Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  40. ^ Groundbreakers | PBS, retrieved November 25, 2023
  41. ^ "Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Living with Asthma". MedlinePlus. 6 (3): 9. Fall 2011.
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