Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is recognized as one of the greatest female athletes in history, with a competitive career marked by unparalleled success. During her collegiate career at UCLA from 1980 to 1985, she excelled in both track and field and basketball, serving as a starter for the basketball team for four seasons and scoring 1,167 points. Her exceptional talent earned her the Broderick Award as the nation’s best female collegiate track and field competitor in 1983 and 1985, culminating in the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup in 1985 as the nation’s best female collegiate athlete. She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1986.

Transitioning her unparalleled success on the track into a powerful voice for youth development and community engagement, Joyner-Kersee established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation in 1988. This organization promotes athletics and academics among underprivileged youth. In 2007, she co-founded Athletes for Hope, an influential organization dedicated to empowering athletes to contribute to community and charitable causes, alongside notable figures such as Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, and Mia Hamm. She also contributed her expertise by serving on the board of directors for USA Track & Field, the sport’s national governing body.

Joyner-Kersee’s enduring legacy is celebrated through numerous high-profile recognitions. She was named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women in 1999 and has been inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. In 2013, the female Jesse Owens Award was renamed the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award in her honor. Most recently, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2023, further solidifying her status as a global icon in sports and philanthropy.