Olympic Medalist to Serve as Holman Family Distinguished Speaker

Jackie Joyner-Kersee will speak at 8 p.m. April 9 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium as part of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series.

Widely considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, Joyner-Kersee is also among the most-prominent philanthropists and advocates in the country. Now in its third decade of operation, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation works to improve the quality of life for youth, adults and families, particularly in her hometown of East St. Louis, Ill. She is also a co-founder of Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes get involved with charitable causes.

A six-time Olympic medal winner, Joyner-Kersee earned four world champion titles over four consecutive Olympic games from 1984 to 1996. She still holds the world heptathlon record, as well as the national and Olympic records in the long jump. On the hardwood, she was a decorated All-American at UCLA and eventually played professional basketball for a short period of time.

Joyner-Kersee is a leading advocate for health issues, including asthma, from which she has suffered throughout her life. She also focuses her efforts on children’s education, racial equality, social reform and women’s rights.

Copies of Joyner-Kersee's book, "A Kind of Grace: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Female Athlete," will be available for purchase at Truman's bookstore in the Student Union Building Down Under.

Doors for this event open at 7:30 p.m. and no ticket is required. The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series was created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. For more information, email pr@truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.