1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
*Bethannee P. B5*

2. Before Fame
*Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born March 3, 1962, in East St. Louis.
*Jackie was one of four children born to Al and Mary Joyner.
*Jackie grew up in a dangerous neighborhood, witnessing murder and violence on the streets.
*Jackie was named after First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
*Jackie received a basketball scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

3. How She Became Famous
*Jackie entered her first competitive race at the age of nine and finished last.
*When Jackie tried the long jump, her natural ability was obvious.
*She leaped more than 17 feet when she was only twelve years old.
*At the age of fourteen, she won the National Junior Pentathlon championship for the first time. She also won it in each of the next three years.

4. Obstacles She Faced
*When Jackie was an eighteen year old freshman in college, she lost her mother to a very rare form of meningitis.
*Jackie grew up in a very rough neighborhood.
*Jackie’s family didn’t always have money for enough food.
*Jackie also dealt with the issue of jealousy from her fellow classmates.

5. Major Accomplishments
*1992 Olympic Games Bronze Medal, long jump.
*1992 Olympic Games Gold Medal, heptathlon.
*1993 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, heptathlon.
*1993 World Track and Field Championships, heptathlon.
*Set American record in long jump, 23' 1 1/4", in
*Tied American record in 50m hurdles, 6.84 seconds, in 1993.
*Olympic Heptathlon: 1984, Silver Medal; 1988, Gold Medal; 1992, Gold Medal.
*UCLA Scholar Athlete Award: 1985.
*Broderick Cup: 1986.
*UCLA Most Valuable Player, basketball and track and field: 1986.
*James E. Sullivan Award: 1986.
*Jesse Owens Memorial Award: 1986, 1987.
*Woman Athlete of the Year, Track & Field News: 1986, 1987.
*Associated Press Sports Award Athlete of the Year-- Women: 1987.
*World Track and Field Championships: 1987, First place, heptathlon and long jump.
*Olympic Long Jump: 1988, Gold Medal; 1992.

6. Personal Life
*In 1986, Jackie married her coach, Bob Kersee. *Jackie officially retired from track and field in 2001 at age 38. *She founded the Jackie Joyner- Kersee Youth Center Foundation. *Jackie enjoys watching movies and television, as well as shopping, something that her rewarding endorsement contracts allow her to enjoy.

7. Other Interesting Information
*Joyner-Kersee's last Olympic run came in 1996.
* She did not compete in the heptathlon that year due to a pulled hamstring.
*All the time spent in physical and mental preparation paid off, as Jackie became the first woman to win the Olympic heptathlon twice.
*Jackie also began a career as a sports agent, representing players in the NFL.
*Jackie received her bachelor's degree in history from UCLA in
Happy 50th on March 3rd!

8. Pictures

9. Bibliography
“Joyner-Kersee, Jacqueline." Britannica Biographies. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1 Mar Web. 31 Jan
Reed, William F."Joyner-Kersee, Jackie." World Book Student. World Book, Web. 31 Jan , 31 Jan Web. 31 Jan
Joyner-Kersee.”. : Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 4 Feb Web. 4 Feb