Named Best Female Athlete of the 20th Century, there is no doubt that Jackie Joyner is the GOAT. She also appears as humble and even tempered as she was as a competitor. Though there were violence and drugs in her East St Louis community, Jackie grew up with great support and encouragement. While watching the Olympics on TV in 1976, Wilma Rudolph and Evelyn Ashford became important role models for her. The community center was the center of her childhood where she fortunately was introduced to male coaches who really cared about girls and women having opportunities …and couldn’t help but notice she had talent. Jumping 21 feet while still in high school and winning basketball championships brought her onto the radar of UCLA coaches in both sports. She compliments her coaches and UCLA for working with her training needs and redshirt year as her first Olympics taught her a lot about the need for strength not just physically but emotionally and mentally. Jackie understood that injury was just part of the athletic experience - her experience to last another three Olympics.

Some of her best advice given by coaches and family included: lead by example, be patient, rid your self of doubt and instead believe, finish something if you start it and embrace other’s greatness. Jackie surrounded herself with family throughout her Olympics, eventually marrying her coach Bobby Kersee who also coached Flo Jo who married Jackie’s Olympian brother, Al. She tells the stories of Olympics that affirms her will to win. Jackie names three things that sustained her throughout four Olympics: faith, family and great coaching.

She describes what she learned from each of her Olympic Games. And Jackie also credits the generosity of others who taught her the value of volunteering. At the end of her long career she returned to East St Louis where she founded the Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation, and brought back the community center where they offer an after-school program, transportation, meals and sports opportunities.

Host: Chris Voelz
A co-production of WiSP Sports and the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards

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