50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
36. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Track and Field.
American track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee enjoyed one of the longest and most storied Olympic careers in history. Focusing on two events (the long jump and heptathlon), Joyner-Kersee captured an Olympic medal in four different Summer Games.
In 1984, while brother Al was winning gold in the long jump, Joyner-Kersee took silver in the heptathlon. Four years later in Seoul, Joyner-Kersee had her finest Olympic showing, winning gold in both the long jump and heptathlon, with sister in-law Florence Griffith Joyner racking up her own medal count in the meantime.
After winning gold and bronze in Barcelona, Joyner-Kersee closed out her Olympic career at the ’96 Atlanta Games, capturing one last bronze in the long jump.
In total, Joyner-Kersee would win six Olympic medals (three gold, one silver, and two bronze) before retiring for a second time in 2000 after failing to reach her fifth Olympics in Sydney.
Next: 35. Jim Thorpe.