Home

About the Hall

Honorary chair

Inductees

Humanitarian Awards

Humanitarian Bowl

New Hall of Fame

Nominate a Humanitarian

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Back to Inductees page

Inducted: 1998
Induction Class: Pelé (Soccer),
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Track & Field), David Robinson (Basketball)
Sport: Olympic Games (Athletics)
Years Active: 1984-1996
Born: March 3, 1962
Birthplace: East St. Louis, Illinois
Community Focus: Inner City Revitalization, Education
Foundation: Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

Jackie Joyner-Kersee, three time Olympic gold medalist in the heptathlon and one of the best all-around female athletes in history has taken an active role in developing youth-driven, education and community building programs around the world.  Joyner-Kersee was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 1998, which included basketball great David Robinson, and soccer star Pele.

During her years at UCLA, Joyner-Kersee was both a track and a basketball star. She competed in her first Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles, where she won a silver medal in the heptathlon. In the 12 years that followed, Joyner-Kersee went on to win two Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon, gold in the long jump, and a bronze in her final Olympic games in Atlanta. During her athletic career she also won four gold medals in the World Championships, two in the heptathlon and two in the long jump. She continues to hold the world record in the women’s heptathlon as well as the second all-time best women’s long jump distance. Sports Illustrated magazine selected her as the top female athlete of the 20th century.

Following her athletic career, Joyner-Kersee went on to found the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, an organization which aims to provide youth, adults, and families with the resources to improve their quality of life and to enhance communities worldwide.  The Foundation helped to support her own home town of East St. Louis.