American track and field athlete Jackie Joyner married her coach, Bob Kersee, in 1986 after knowing each other for years of professional coaching.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of the greatest female athletes in history, with a remarkable career in track and field.
Born on March 3, 1962, she won a total of six Olympic medals, including three golds in the Heptathlon and long jump.
She first showcased her athletic skills during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. There, Jackie set a world record in the heptathlon, standing for over 30 years.
Jackie married her coach, Bob Kersee and their professional life turned personal as training formed romantic emotions.
Besides just training, the couple significantly contributed to their community through their philanthropic efforts and sports promotion.
Known for His Unique Training Techniques, Jackie Joyner’s Husband, Bob Kersee, Is Often Called the “Mad Scientist” of Track and Field Coaching!
Track Legend Jackie’s husband, Bob Kersee, was born in the Canal Zone, Panama, in 1954. His parents raised him with a blend of two cultures, i.e., American and Panamanian.
Born in Panama, Bob moved to the United States, where he began exploring his athletic pursuits at a young age.
He graduated from San Pedro High School in California, where he began to establish himself as a talented track athlete.
Following high school, he attended Los Angeles Harbor College, where he was a state finalist in the hurdles.
The coach later transferred to Long Beach State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 1978.
Bob Kersee continued his education at California State University, Northridge. There, he obtained a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology while coaching the university’s track team.
However, his professional coaching career took off only when he joined UCLA as an assistant coach in 1980.
Bob made a name for herself and became the head coach, training many elite athletes.
Under his guidance, many athletes succeeded, earning medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships. He coached his students not just physically but also trained them mentally.
Bob’s accolades include being named USA Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2015. He even earned the World Athletics Coaching Achievement Award in 2021.
Among all the athletes he coached, Jackie Joyner became the love of his life. Bob Kersse married Jackie, the greatest female athlete of all time, in 1986.
Speaking of his training techniques, his students and colleagues often referred to Bob as the Mad Scientist of track and field coaching.
His training methods often resemble scientific experiments. He treats his practice sessions as a “lab,” using technology to test techniques and strategies for players.
Jackie Joyner and Bob Kersee Were Nothing but Coach and Athlete Before Their Professional Relationship Turned Personal!
Olympian Jackie first crossed paths with Bob Kersee while training for the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he was her coach.
Shortly after the Los Angeles games, their professional relationship began to evolve into a personal one.
The two discovered common ground in their spiritual beliefs and commitment to athletics, which laid the foundation for their relationship.
Reports suggest that Jackie and Bob married on January 11, 1986, at a church where he served as an assistant minister.
Their wedding occurred just before Jackie competed in the Goodwill Games in Moscow.
The sports power couple doesn’t have any biological children of their own. However, they take the kids into their own foundation as their children.
Jackie dedicated her post-athletic career to empowering children and young adults through their foundation.
Through the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis, Illinois, they oversee programs that serve over 200 students daily.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee suffered from severe asthma throughout her athletic career.
- Before fully committing to track and field, she was a standout basketball forward at UCLA.
- In 1986, she became the first woman to score over 7,000 points in a heptathlon event during the Goodwill Games.
