Who Is Jackie Joyner-Kersee? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on March 3, 1962, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is an iconic American retired track and field athlete renowned for her exceptional achievements in heptathlon and long jump. With a career spanning over a decade, she is celebrated as one of the greatest female athletes in Olympic history. As of 2025, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 63 years old and continues to be an influential figure in sports and philanthropy.
| Occupation | Basketball Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Jacqueline Joyner March 3, 1962 |
| Age | 63 Years |
| Birth Place | East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Jackie Joyner-Kersee's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Jackie Joyner-Kersee stands tall at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) and has maintained a competitive physique throughout her career. Although her weight has varied depending on her athletic training and events, she generally maintained a fit body around 150 pounds (68 kg). With her athletic build, she remains a role model for those passionate about fitness.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While Jackie Joyner-Kersee has been private about her personal relationships, she has been married to Bob Kersee, a notable track and field coach, since 1986. The couple has shared a strong bond, both professionally and personally, through their dedication to athletics. As of 2025, there haven’t been any public reports suggesting changes in her relationship status, as she continues to enjoy a supportive relationship with her husband.
At the 1988 Games she faced allegations of drug use from Brazilian runner Joaquim Cruz. This continued the following season in 1989 when Darrell Robinson accused Joyner-Kersee's husband and coach, Bobby Kersee, of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
Years later, doping insider Victor Conte asserted that in 1988 he personally witnessed an Olympic official at the Seoul games notifying Bobby Kersee that Joyner-Kersee had tested positive for PED use. Joyner-Kersee has consistently maintained that she competed throughout her career without performance-enhancing drugs.
Net Worth and Salary
Jackie Joyner-Kersee's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million as of 2025. This wealth primarily stems from her successful athletic career, endorsements, and various business ventures. Additionally, she has been involved in motivational speaking and sports commentary, further supplementing her income throughout the years.
Joyner-Kersee is a philanthropist in children's education, racial equality and women's rights. She is a founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which encourages young people in East St. Louis to pursue athletics and academics. She collaborated with Comcast to create the Internet Essentials program in 2011, which provides high-speed internet access to low-income Americans.
Career, Business and Investments
Joyner-Kersee’s career boasts an impressive list of accolades, including three Olympic gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze in major international competitions. Following her retirement from professional athletics, she founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, aimed at helping youth in underserved communities to achieve success through sports and education. Beyond philanthropy, she has invested in various business ventures, including health and wellness products, showcasing her versatility as an entrepreneur.
In basketball, she was a starter at forward for each of her first three seasons (1980–81, 81–82, and 82–83) as well as in her senior (fifth) year, 1984–1985. She had red-shirted during the 1983–1984 academic year to concentrate on the heptathlon for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
She scored 1,167 points during her collegiate career, which places her 19th all time for the Bruins games. The Bruins advanced to the West Regional semi-finals of the 1985 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament before losing to eventual runner-up Georgia.
Social Networks
Jackie Joyner-Kersee remains active on social media, using platforms like Instagram and Twitter to inspire and engage with her fans. With thousands of followers, she shares motivational content, fitness tips, and updates on her philanthropic efforts. Her online presence continues to reinforce her commitment to community development and sports.
Education
Joyner-Kersee attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she earned a degree in psychology while also excelling in athletics. Her education laid the foundation for her future endeavors in both sports and her advocacy work, demonstrating the importance of education alongside athletic aspirations.
Louis, Illinois, and was named after Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States. As a high school athlete at East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School, she qualified for the finals in the long jump at the 1980 Olympic Trials, finishing 8th behind another high schooler, Carol Lewis.
She was inspired to compete in multi-disciplinary track & field events after seeing a movie about Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Didrikson, the track star, basketball player, and pro golfer, was chosen the "Greatest Female Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century.
Fifteen years later, Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of all time, just ahead of Zaharias.
