Olympic Legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee Returns to UCLA

One of the greatest athletes in history is coming home to celebrate the next generation of dreamers.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who won six Olympic medals and set records that still stand nearly 40 years later, will deliver the keynote address at UCLA's June 12 commencement ceremonies. The announcement brings full circle a journey that started when she arrived on campus in 1980 as a student athlete with big dreams.

"UCLA helped shape not only my athletic journey but also the woman I have become," Joyner-Kersee said. She plans to share a message about perseverance, purpose, and believing your dreams are possible.

Between 1980 and 1985, Joyner-Kersee did something almost unheard of: she excelled in both track and field and basketball at the highest college level. She ranks among UCLA's all-time leaders in basketball scoring and rebounding while simultaneously dominating the heptathlon, a grueling seven-event competition testing speed, strength, and endurance.

Her college success was just the beginning. Competing in four Olympic Games from 1984 to 1996, she won three golds, one silver, and two bronze medals. She became the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic golds in the heptathlon, and her 1988 world record in that event remains unbroken today.

What made her truly special was her versatility. Joyner-Kersee also won Olympic gold in the long jump, proving her excellence wasn't limited to one discipline.

Why This Inspires

After retiring from competition, Joyner-Kersee turned her focus to lifting others up. In 1988, she founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation to improve quality of life for youth and families in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. The foundation's work includes a 41,000-square-foot community center offering programs in science, technology, and recreation.

She also co-founded Athletes for Hope alongside Muhammad Ali and Mia Hamm, connecting professional athletes with meaningful philanthropic work. Her commitment spans children's education, health and wellness, women's rights, racial equality, and social justice.

"Her journey from a UCLA student athlete to global leader and advocate reflects the values of excellence, resilience and service that define UCLA," said Miguel García-Garibay, senior dean of the UCLA College.

Now married for 40 years to Bob Kersee, her former UCLA track coach, Joyner-Kersee continues to prove that greatness extends far beyond the medal podium.

The graduates gathering in Pauley Pavilion on June 12 will hear from someone who knows exactly what it means to dream big and deliver even bigger.