Jackie Joyner-Kersee is called the greatest female athlete of the 20th century. “That’s just a title. I know how hard I had to work. If I know that each time I go out there I give my best, and the people who believe in me and I’m very respectful and I’m very thankful for us getting to that next level. Then that’s what’s more important to me than being called ‘the world’s greatest.’”
She’s a six-time Olympic medalist! Winner of three gold, one silver and 2 bronze after competing in four straight summer games. Her 1988 heptathlon world record still stands. “To make an Olympic team is tough enough. But sometimes you’re not going to come out on top. In my first Olympic Games I walked away with a Silver Medal, but I walked away knowing that I had the ability to do better. It’s the mental toughness that I think separates the good, the best and the greatest. So for me I wanted to be the toughest athlete out there mentally.”
Tom Buehring, CBN Sports: “Where did you get your mental toughness?”
Jackie: “Probably growing up in my hometown of East St. Louis. You learn survivor skills. Then as you evolve as you grow up and some of those survivor skills that was just playing a tag game when you were 9, 10 years of age. You actually have to use those same skills to make it through life.”
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source: BCNN1.com
