Track and field Olympic legend speaks in Schenectady

By WNYT

[anvplayer video=”5137893″ station=”998132″]

An Olympic legend was in the Capital Region on Wednesday. Jackie Joyner-Kersee shared her story to more than 400 people at Rivers Casino in Schenectady for the annual Key4Women forum.

Joyner-Kersee is among the all-time greatest athletes ever to compete in track & field.

She’s won three Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal and two Olympic bronze medals at four different Olympic Games.

FILE – In this Sept. 24, 1988, file photo, Jackie Joyner-Kersee of East St. Louis, Ill., makes her javelin throw during heptathlon competition at the Seoul Olympics in South Korea. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

Sports Illustrated voted Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of the 20th century.

In 1988, Joyner-Kersee established the Jackie-Joyner Kersee Foundation, which continues now. The foundation provides youth, adults and families with resources to improve their quality of life.

NewsChannel 13s Faith King was the emcee and caught up with Joyner-Kersee afterwards, as she shared her testimony of becoming one of the greats. She says she went through many battles, one being the loss of her mother.

An Olympic legend was in the Capital Region on Wednesday. Jackie Joyner-Kersee shared her story to more than 400 people at Rivers Casino in Schenectady for the annual Key4Women forum.

Learn about what she says kept her strong by watching the video.