Unit 1: Chapter 2: Biography

Student View
Teacher View

Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1962 –

When Jackie Joyner-Kersee was nine years old, she ran her first race ever. How did she do? She finished last.

Young Jackie might have quit running then, but she loved track and field sports. She devoted herself to working hard and improving. It worked. Between 1984 and 1996, Joyner-Kersee competed in four different Olympic Games. She won six medals. Three of them were gold.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a great athlete. She is also a leader. Many female athletes today see her as one of their heroes. Joyner-Kersee has shown hundreds of girls that they can be top athletes too.

Take a Closer Look

Track and Field
Track and field sports have a long history that goes back as far as the Olympic Games. Find out how these sports fared against others over the centuries.

Ancient Greek Games
The Olympic Games started about 3,000 years ago in ancient Greece. Their name comes from the city in which they were played, Olympia. The games were dedicated to the cities’ gods.

Giving Back to the Community
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a role model for everyone. Her strength and endurance crosses over from sports and into her work with underprivileged children and families.


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