OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JOYNER-KERSEE TO LIGHT BIG SKY TORCH

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By KFBB Sports_Team

Story Published: May 10, 2011 at 3:04 PM MDT

Story Updated: May 10, 2011 at 3:04 PM MDT

Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be the special guest athlete of the 26th annual Big Sky State Games. She will light the torch and address the audience during Opening Ceremonies, Friday, July 15, at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium in Billings.
Joyner - Kersee's Olympic accomplishments date back to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles when she became the Olympic Silver Medalist for the Heptathlon. She went on to win the Gold medal for both the Heptathlon and Long Jump in the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea. Joyner - Kersee was awarded the Gold medal for the Heptathlon and the Bronze medal for Long Jump in the XXV Olympiad Games held in Barcelona in 1992. She ended her Olympic career in 1996 at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta with a Bronze medal for the Long Jump. The 4-Time World Champion still holds the World Heptathlon Record of 7, 291 points set on 9/24/88.
Joyner - Kersee was born in East St. Louis, IL, one of four children. She attended UCLA where she played basketball, eventually being named one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women's basketball history. After her All-American basketball career at UCLA she played professional basketball for a brief time.
Joyner - Kersee was named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports illustrated. She has been described by the sports media as one of the warmest, graceful and most pleasant persons in all of athletics.
Joyner - Kersee is not only known for her outstanding athletic accomplishments but also for her continuous community efforts. In 1988 she established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation that offers youth, adults and families with resources necessary to improve their quality of life through recreation and sport venues. The charitable organization, Athletes for Hope, was founded by Joyner - Kersee and other well known pro athletes in 2007. The organization provides professional athletes with the opportunity to get involved in charitable causes. Their support transcends to non-athletes who volunteer and support their local communities.
Gates for Opening Ceremonies of the Big Sky State Games open Friday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. The Parade of Athletes begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, children under 6 are admitted free. State Games participants are admitted free with their Opening Ceremonies tickets. Fitness Walk participants and 5K runners need to check in at the sport tents located in the southeast corner of Pioneer Park for admission credentials.
Wendy's sponsors Opening Ceremonies. Major sponsors of the Big Sky State Games are First Interstate Bank, Kampgrounds of America and Montana Cycling and Ski. For more information go online to www.bigskygames.org or call 254-7426.

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