The Allianz Memorial Van Damme has a rich history that started in 1977. To honour the athletes that contributed to the fame and the exposure of the meeting, the organisers decided in 2017 to create a Hall of Fame. Mike Powell, Blanka Vlasic, Willie Banks, Gail Devers, Sebastian Coe, Heike Drechsler, Steve Cram, Merlene Ottey, Hicham El Guerrouj, Kim Gevaert, Tia Hellebaut and Wilfried Meert – the founder and the historic meeting director – are all introduced in this gallery. This year Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be joining them.
Jacqueline 'Jackie' Joyner-Kersee was born 60 years ago in Illinois. In 1987 (7,07m) and in 1984 (7,11m) she won the Long Jump at the Memorial Van Damme. In 1986 (7,12m) and 1992 (7,00m) she also jumped beyond 7 meters to finish in second. In 1985 Joyner-Kersee finished fourth in the 400m Hurdles in 55”05.
Sports Illustrated named Joyner-Kersee the best Sports Woman of the 20th Century. At the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 she won gold in the Heptathlon with 7291 points, a World Record that stands for 34 years now. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona she won another Heptathlon title. Joyner-Kersee als collected 2 World Long Jump titles (1987 and 1991) and an Olympic Long Jump gold medal in 1988.
