Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee

TRACK & FIELD

Birthplace: East St. Louis, Illinois

March 3, 1962 -

Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee is part of a the Joyner family of American

track-and-field stars. Jackie first gained national attention by winning 4

consecutive National Junior Pentathlon Championships. She set the heptathlon

world record (7,291 points) at the 1988 Olympics. In 1988, she was the first

woman selected Athlete of the Year by the Sporting News. This impressive female athlete earned the

U.S. record and won the World Championship for the long jump twice (1987 and 1991). In 1992, she

became the first winner of back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon event. Jackie retired from track and

field, and joined one of the new women's professional basketball leagues.