What Happened After Joyner-Kersee Went To UCLA? What Does Joyner-Kersee Travel Around The United States To Speak About?
by Samina
Updated Feb 14, 2023
Who Is Joyner-Kersee?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a retired American track and field athlete who is widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes of all time. Born in East St. Louis, Illinois in 1962, Joyner-Kersee began her athletic career as a teenager, competing in both track and field and basketball.
After enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Joyner-Kersee became an NCAA champion in the heptathlon and long jump events. She went on to win three Olympic gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in those events, and set several world records in the process. Joyner-Kersee's athletic accomplishments earned her numerous accolades and honors, including induction into both the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
What Happened After Joyner-Kersee Went To UCLA?
After Jackie Joyner-Kersee enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she became an NCAA champion and won several individual titles in the heptathlon and long jump events. She also earned a degree in history from the university.
Following her success at UCLA, Joyner-Kersee became one of the most dominant female athletes of the 1980s and 1990s. She won three Olympic gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in the heptathlon and long jump events, and set several world records in those events. Joyner-Kersee was widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes of all time, and was inducted into both the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
After retiring from competition, Joyner-Kersee became a philanthropist and motivational speaker. She founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which supports young people in the East St. Louis area through educational and athletic programs. She has also been active in a number of humanitarian causes, including HIV/AIDS awareness and children's health initiatives.
What Does Joyner-Kersee Travel Around The United States To Speak About?
As a motivational speaker, Jackie Joyner-Kersee travels around the United States to speak on a variety of topics. Her speeches often focus on themes such as leadership, overcoming adversity, and achieving success in both sports and life.
Joyner-Kersee also speaks on issues related to health and wellness, particularly in underserved communities. She is a strong advocate for physical fitness and healthy living, and has used her platform to raise awareness about the importance of regular exercise and good nutrition.
In addition, Joyner-Kersee often shares her personal story of growing up in a low-income community and overcoming various challenges to become one of the most successful athletes in history. She uses her own experiences to inspire others to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles in their own lives.
Overall, Joyner-Kersee is known for her positive and uplifting messages, and for her dedication to helping others achieve their full potential.
How Old Is Jackie Joyner-Kersee?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a retired American track and field athlete who is widely considered one of the greatest female athletes of all time. She was born on March 3, 1962, in East St. Louis, Illinois, and grew up in a family of eight children. Joyner-Kersee began her athletic career at a young age and went on to become a star track and field athlete, winning numerous Olympic and World Championship medals.
Throughout her career, Joyner-Kersee set multiple world records in various events, including the heptathlon and long jump. She won three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze at four different Olympic Games. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Joyner-Kersee has been recognized for her advocacy work, including efforts to combat youth violence and support education initiatives. Jackie Joyner-Kersee was 61 years old as of 2023.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Family Members
Jackie Joyner-Kersee grew up in a large family in East St. Louis, Illinois. She was one of eight children of Alfred and Mary Joyner. Her mother worked as a nurse, and her father was a truck driver and a landscaper. Joyner-Kersee's siblings also had athletic talents, and her brother Al Joyner won the gold medal in the triple jump at the 1984 Olympic Games.
Joyner-Kersee is also married to Bob Kersee, who is her former coach and has played a significant role in her athletic success. The couple has been married since 1986, and Kersee continues to be involved in athletics as a coach.
In addition to her immediate family, Joyner-Kersee has been a positive influence on many young athletes throughout her career. She has worked to support athletic and educational initiatives in underprivileged communities and is a role model to many young people.
What Happened After Joyner-Kersee Went To UCLA - FAQs
Founded in 1988 by Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the JJK Foundation is an iconic organization with a mission to carry out Jackie's dream to provide youth in East St. Louis the opportunity to win in life.
Considered by many to be the greatest female all-around athlete in history, Jackie Joyner-Kersee's achievements include three Olympic gold medals, four World Outdoor Championships gold medals, and the still-standing world record of 7,291 points in the women's heptathlon.
Florence Joyner, also known as “Flo Jo,” was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 21, 1959. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, Joyner won a silver medal in the 200-meter run. She married fellow athlete Al Joyner, the brother of famed athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Most of her time is spent in East St. Louis and the rest in Los Angeles with her husband of 32 years, Bobby Kersee, one of the world's most successful track coaches.
Since retiring, she created the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation, to encourage underprivileged youth in her hometown to play sports, the athletic great devoted more time to the endeavor in retirement.