Joyner-Kersee, Jackie (joi`nər-kûr`zē), 1962–, American track and field athlete, b. East St. Louis, Ill. One of the world's best all-around women athletes, she won the silver medal in the heptathlon in the 1984 Summer Olympics, won the gold medal and set the world record in the event in 1988, and captured the gold again at the 1992 games. She also won a gold medal (1988) and bronze medals (1992, 1996) in the long jump.

Joyner-Kersee, Jackie

orig. Jacqueline Joyner

(born March 3, 1962, East St. Louis, Ill., U.S.) U.S. athlete. She won four consecutive National Junior Heptathlon championships and starred in basketball and track and field at UCLA. In 1986 she became the first heptathlon competitor ever to score 7,000 points. She broke that barrier six times, four times establishing a new world record. She won heptathlon gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, becoming the first heptathlete ever to achieve consecutive Olympic wins. Her best events were the long jump (world record, 1987; Olympic gold medal, 1988), 100-m hurdles, 200-m run, and high jump. Many consider her to be the finest female athlete in history.

Joyner-Kersee, (Jacqueline) Jackie (1962– ) track and field athlete; born in East St. Louis, Mo. One of the greatest female athletes in history, she won a silver medal in the heptathlon in the 1984 Olympics and gold medals in the 1988 and 1992 Games. She won a gold medal in the long jump in 1988 and a bronze at the 1992 Olympics.