Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Olympian and Founder · Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation · company speakers →

Jackie Joyner-Kersee , winner of six Olympic Medals, is considered by ESPN to be one of the “50 Greatest Athletes of All Time,” and was voted Female Athlete of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated for Women. She is the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon, the first African American woman to win an Olympic Medal in the long jump, and the first woman to score 7,000 points in the heptathlon. Born and raised in East St. Louis, Jackie is committed to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality after-school programs, safe recreational places within their communities, and caring adults to help them achieve their dreams. Through tireless work and a commitment to ensuring every youth is given the opportunity to achieve greatness, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has grown to become a safe haven and learning-rich environment for area youth. Where the challenges and limitations of one of America’s most notoriously deadly and impoverished cities will never define where a child can go, or who they can become. Jackie is the heart and soul of the JJK Foundation and serves as living proof that kids in East St. Louis can dare to dream big, and if they have the drive and determination, they can accomplish anything they desire.

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