At a private engagement at The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Headquarters, adidas and track-and-field icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee gathered friends and family for an intimate mural unveiling for the launch of the Honoring Black Excellence initiative, a press release noted.
Guests came together to remove flowers from the mural wall and were encouraged to spread them throughout the community as a symbolic gesture of Joyner-Kersee's philanthropy and commitment to providing a brighter world for today's youth.
This act unveiled a mural, painted by Brandon Breaux (known for Chance the Rapper's album covers), that immortalizes Joyner-Kersee's legacy in sports and recognizes the community work through The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in her hometown, East St. Louis, Illinois.
Following the event, attendees received a commemorative zine dedicated to Joyner-Kersee's life work on and off the track with stories of her rise, archival images and inspirational quotes.
Joyner-Kersee currently holds the world record of 7,291 points in the women's heptathlon and sits on the board of directors for USA Track & Field. The four-time Olympian achievements include three Olympic gold medals and four World Outdoor Championships gold medals. Joyner-Kersee won the long jump gold medal in 1988 as well as the long jump bronze medals in 1992 and 1996. In the Olympic heptathlon competition, she won the silver medal in 1984 as well as gold medals in 1988 and 1992.