Jackie Joyner Kersee: Black Fitness History Episode #4

In the world of track and field, one name stands out as a beacon of excellence, perseverance, and inspiration: Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Known as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the Olympics, Jackie didn’t just win medals—she redefined what was possible.

Born on March 3, 1962, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Jackie faced more than her share of challenges. Growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood, she learned early on the value of hard work, discipline, and resilience.

From an early age, it was clear Jackie had exceptional athletic ability. She excelled not just in track and field, but also in basketball and volleyball, earning a scholarship to UCLA.

At UCLA, her focus turned to track and field, and under the guidance of legendary coach Bob Kersee—who would later become her husband—Jackie’s career took off. By the time of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she was ready to take the world by storm.

In her first Olympic appearance in 1984, Jackie earned a silver medal in the heptathlon—a grueling seven-event competition. But for Jackie, silver was just the beginning.

She came back even stronger for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where she not only won the gold medal in the heptathlon, but also set a world record with 7,291 points—an achievement that still stands to this day. And she wasn’t finished yet.

Jackie defended her Olympic heptathlon title in 1992 in Barcelona, proving her dominance in the sport. But Jackie’s talents extended beyond just the heptathlon. In both 1988 and 1992, she also earned medals in the long jump, including a gold in 1988.

In 1996, despite dealing with severe injuries, Jackie competed in her final Olympic Games in Atlanta, adding another bronze medal in the long jump to her collection, solidifying her status as one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time.

Off the track, Jackie’s passion for making a difference continued. In 1988, she founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, dedicated to helping underprivileged youth in her hometown of East St. Louis. Her goal was simple: to give others the same opportunities she had fought so hard to achieve.

I always believed that if I could inspire just one person to dream big and push through their challenges, then I was doing something right. It’s about lifting others up.

With six Olympic medals, three of them gold, and countless world championships, Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s legacy extends far beyond the track. She broke barriers, shattered records, and inspired generations of athletes—especially young women of color—to believe that no dream is too big.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s story is not just one of Olympic greatness, but of perseverance, heart, and the power of never giving up. She remains a symbol of excellence, not only in athletics but in life.