One of UCLA's most iconic alumni is coming home to celebrate the next generation of Bruins. Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 UCLA College commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 12, in Pauley Pavilion. The three ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"It is truly an honor to return to my alma mater, UCLA, and speak to such an extraordinary group of graduates," Joyner-Kersee said. "UCLA helped shape not only my athletic journey but also the woman I have become. To stand before the students and share a message of perseverance, purpose and belief reminds me that greatness begins with faith in yourself. Always believe that your dreams are possible and then go out and make them a reality."

Widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Joyner-Kersee's path to global stardom began at UCLA, where between 1980 and 1985 she excelled as a rare two-sport standout, in track and field and women's basketball. On the court, she ranks among the Bruins' all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding and games played. At the same time, she dominated college track and field, winning multiple national titles in the heptathlon - a grueling seven-event, two-day test of speed, strength and endurance - and earning UCLA's All-University Athlete award three times. In 1985, she received the Broderick Cup as the nation's top collegiate female athlete, and in 1996, she was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.

Following her years as a Bruin, that dominance carried onto the world stage. Competing in four Olympic Games - Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) - Joyner-Kersee won six medals: three gold, one silver and two bronze. She captured back-to-back golds in the heptathlon in 1988 and 1992, becoming the first woman to do so, and set a world record in the event at the Seoul Games that still stands today. Uniquely, she was also an Olympic gold medalist in the long jump, cementing her reputation as one of the most versatile athletes in history. Joyner-Kersee's global medal collection also includes four golds earned at the World Athletics Championships between 1987 and 1993.

In 2000, Sports Illustrated for Women named Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of the 20th century - a reflection not only of her medal count, but of her unmatched combination of excellence, longevity and impact.

Beyond her achievements in sport, she has built a career as a philanthropist and advocate for children's education, health and wellness and for women's rights, racial equality and social justice. In 1988, she founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which provides resources and support to improve quality of life for youth, adults and families in and around her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. The foundation creates transformative opportunities in science, technology and community engagement and recreation, including at the 41,000-square-foot Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center.

She also co-founded, along with Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm and others, the national nonprofit Athletes for Hope, which connects notable professional athletes with meaningful philanthropic efforts.

Joyner-Kersee has been married for 40 years to Bob Kersee, her former track and field coach at UCLA.

"Jackie Joyner-Kersee's legacy is defined not only by her unparalleled achievements in athletics but by her unwavering commitment to creating opportunity for others," said Miguel García-Garibay, senior dean of the UCLA College and dean of physical sciences. "Her journey from a UCLA student-athlete to global leader and advocate reflects the values of excellence, resilience and service that define UCLA. Her return to campus as our commencement speaker is both a celebration of her remarkable accomplishments and a powerful moment for our graduates."

Joyner-Kersee was invited to be the 2026 commencement speaker by a UCLA committee made up of students, alumni, faculty and administrators.

For more information about 2026 commencement activities, visit UCLA's commencement website.