As we celebrate Black History, we are shining a light on an extraordinary athlete from East St. Louis, whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a six-time Olympic medalist—including three golds—redefining what was possible for the world of athletics. But her story goes beyond the medals.
“To know not to forget where you come from and to really understand the people that paved the way, people who provided opportunities…to know I am a part of that history—but history did not start with me,” Joyner-Kersee told FOX 2.
She delivered one of the most prominent performances in track and field history at the Seoul 1988 Olympics, winning gold in the heptathlon and the long jump. To this day, her heptathlon score remains the world record—which has stood unbroken for over three decades.
Her legacy extends beyond the track, where she has dedicated herself to philanthropy and community service, founding the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in her hometown of East St. Louis.
The impact she has left goes beyond the athletics world. As she often says, “It’s not about where you start. It’s about where you finish.”
