(Black PR Wire)\u00a0One of UCLA\u2019s most iconic alumni is coming home to celebrate the next generation of Bruins. Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 UCLA College commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 12, in Pauley Pavilion. The three\u00a0ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is truly an honor to return to my alma mater, UCLA, and speak to such an extraordinary group of graduates,\u201d Joyner-Kersee said.\u00a0\u201cUCLA helped shape not only my athletic journey but also the woman I have become. To stand before the students and share a message of perseverance, purpose and belief\u00a0reminds me that greatness begins with faith in yourself. Always believe that your dreams\u00a0are possible and then go out and make them a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Joyner-Kersee\u2019s path to global stardom began at UCLA, where between 1980 and\u00a01985 she excelled as a rare two-sport standout, in track and field and women\u2019s basketball. On the court, she ranks among the Bruins\u2019 all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding and games played. At the same time, she dominated college track and field, winning multiple national titles in the heptathlon \u2014 a grueling seven-event, two-day test of speed, strength and endurance \u2014 and earning UCLA\u2019s All-University Athlete award three times. In 1985, she received the Broderick Cup as the nation\u2019s top collegiate female athlete, and in 1996, she was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
Following her years as a Bruin, that dominance carried onto the world stage. Competing in four Olympic Games \u2014 Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) \u2014 Joyner-Kersee won six medals: three gold, one silver and two bronze. She captured back-to-back golds in the heptathlon in 1988 and 1992, becoming the first woman to do so, and set a world record in the event at the Seoul Games that still stands today. Uniquely, she was also an Olympic gold medalist in the long jump, cementing her reputation as one of the most versatile athletes in history. Joyner-Kersee\u2019s global medal collection also includes four golds earned at the World Athletics Championships between 1987 and 1993.<\/p>\n
In 2000, Sports Illustrated for Women named Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of the 20th century \u2014 a reflection not only of her medal count, but of her unmatched combination of excellence, longevity and impact.<\/p>\n
Beyond her achievements in sport, she has built a career as a philanthropist and advocate for children\u2019s education, health and wellness and for women\u2019s rights, racial equality and social justice. In 1988, she founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which provides resources and support to improve quality of life for youth, adults and families in and around her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. The foundation creates transformative opportunities in science, technology and community engagement and recreation, including at the 41,000-square-foot Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center.<\/p>\n
She also co-founded, along with Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm and others, the national nonprofit Athletes for Hope, which connects notable professional athletes with meaningful philanthropic efforts.<\/p>\n
Joyner-Kersee has been married for 40 years to Bob Kersee, her former track and field coach at UCLA.<\/p>\n
\u201cJackie Joyner-Kersee\u2019s legacy is defined not only by her unparalleled achievements in athletics but by her unwavering commitment to creating opportunity for others,\u201d said Miguel Garc\u00eda-Garibay, senior dean of the UCLA College and dean of physical sciences. \u201cHer journey from a UCLA student\u2013athlete to global leader and advocate reflects the values of excellence, resilience and service that define UCLA. Her return to campus as our commencement speaker is both a celebration of her remarkable accomplishments and a powerful moment for our graduates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joyner-Kersee was invited to be the 2026 commencement speaker by a UCLA committee made up of students, alumni, faculty and administrators.<\/p>\n
For more information about 2026 commencement activities, visit\u00a0UCLA\u2019s commencement website.<\/a><\/p>\n Source:\u00a0University of California<\/p>\n