Juliana Yendork facts for kids

Juliana Yendork was a fantastic athlete who excelled in the sports of long jump and triple jump. She was born on August 29, 1972, and competed for both Ghana and the United States.

Juliana became a champion at a young age. In 1988, she won a gold medal at the African Championships. That same year, she also competed in the 1988 Olympic Games. She was almost 16 years old at the time. Competing in the Olympics was a special moment for her and her family. It helped fulfill a dream for her father, Charles, who had hoped to compete in the 1976 Olympics but couldn't because many African countries decided not to attend. Juliana's best long jump was 6.32 meters, which she achieved in June 1989.

High School Success and Records

Later, Juliana became a citizen of the United States. She then started focusing more on the triple jump. While she was still attending Walnut High School in California, she set an amazing personal best in the triple jump. In May 1991, she jumped 13.42 meters in Norwalk. This incredible jump became the National High School Record and held that title for ten years!

Juliana was incredibly dominant in high school. She won both the long jump and the triple jump at the California state meet for three years in a row. Each time, she won by a very large margin, showing how much better she was than her competitors. Before moving to California, she competed for University High School in Waco, Texas, during her freshman year.

College Years and Hall of Fame

After high school, Juliana continued her athletic career at UCLA. Her father, Charles, was even hired as their jumps coach. While she didn't quite reach the same record-breaking marks she had in high school, she was still a valued member of the team. Her achievements were recognized when she was inducted into the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame in 1993.