IRS chases down Olympic champ Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of the greatest female athletes in history, and her track coach husband owe more than $1.22 million in delinquent federal taxes, according to public records.

Joyner, 49, won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the late 1980s and 1990s and launched a charitable foundation in East St. Louis, Ill.

What’s owed:

  • The IRS filed a $624,000 lien against the couple Oct. 4 with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds.
  • The IRS filed a $175,239 lien against the couple Nov. 12 in St. Louis County Court in Missouri.
  • The IRS filed a $425,496 lien against the couple May 17, 2006, in St. Louis County Court.

Their side:

Joyner is working with the IRS on final payment plans, spokeswoman Martine Charles said Monday.

“Like most Americans, she and her husband are not tax professionals and their taxes were handled by a reputable accounting firm,” Charles said. “As soon as the situation arose, she took immediate steps to handle the issue.”

Join the Conversation

The Detroit News aims to provide a forum that fosters smart, civil discussions on the news and events that we cover. The News will not condone personal attacks, off topic posts or brutish language on our site. If you find a comment that you believe violates these standards, please click the "X" in the upper right corner of the post to report it.

Related Posts in Uncategorized on Tax Watchdog