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The 15 biggest moments for women in the Summer Olympics

Since 1900, when women first began competing in the Olympic Games, there have been many unforgettable moments. 

6. A long-jump come back

Gary Hershorn / Reuters
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (left) of the United States takes a hurdle together with Svetla Dimitrova of Bulgaria during the women's 100-meter hurdles heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart in 1993.

  • By Laura Edwins Contributor

Jacki Joyner-Kersee, considered one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all times, is best known for the heptathlon, the track and field competition consisting of seven events.

Joyner-Kersee won two gold medals in the heptathlon, one in Barcelona in 1992, and one in Seoul in 1998, as well as a silver medal in 1984 in Los Angeles. The 7,291 points she earned in the 1988 heptathlon remains the world record.

But at the 1996 Olympic trials for Atlanta, Joyner-Kersee injured her right hamstring. She had not fully covered for the heptathlon, and said she was in pain during the first event, the 100-meter hurdles. Joyner-Kersee withdrew from the heptathlon, but felt well enough to compete in the long jump.

At the finals of the long jump, she was behind, in sixth place, with only one jump remaining. Her final jump, the final jump of her Olympic career, was long enough for her to win the bronze medal. It was her third medal for the long jump, giving her six Olympic medals total.

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Mark Sappenfield
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