US #5668
2022 Runner – Title IX

• One of four stamps celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Title IX

Stamp Category:  Commemorative

Set:  Title IX
Value:  First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  March 3, 2022
First Day City:  Washington, DC
Quantity Issued:  30,000,000
Printed by:  Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Panes of 20
Tagging:  Nonphosphored type III, block tag

Why the stamp was issued:  To commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the passing of the civil rights law known as Title IX.

About the stamp design:  Pictures a dark blue silhouettes of a female runner adorned with yellow laurel branches symbolizing victory.  The stamp was designed by artist Melinda Beck.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the US Department of Education in Washington, DC, an appropriate choice given that Title IX was passed as a clause in the Education Amendments of 1972.

About the Title IX set:  Four stamp designs picturing silhouettes of female athletes all crowned with yellow laurel branches representing victory.  The designs represent the idea that Title IX has allowed talented female athletes to compete fairly and without discrimination based on their gender.

History the stamp represents:  Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee began her career as an athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  There, she became a rising star in track and field as well as women’s basketball between 1980 and 1985.  During this time, she was presented with the Broderick Award twice (1983 and 1985) as well as the Broderick Cup in 1985.  The cup marked her as the best female collegiate athlete in the country that year.  Her career only progressed from there…

In the summer of 1984, Joyner-Kersee competed in the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games and won silver in the heptathlon.  This event included the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run.  She was just five points behind gold medalist Glynis Nunn of Australia.  This was especially impressive as she was still in college at the time.  At the 1986 Goodwill Games, Joyner-Kersee became the first woman in history to earn over 7,000 points in the heptathlon.

Joyner-Kersee continued breaking records and earning Olympic medals.  This included her becoming the first American woman to earn a gold medal in long jump and the heptathlon.  She was also named the greatest female athlete of the 20^th century by Sports Illustrated.  It just goes to show what female athletes can accomplish when given the chance.