13. Illinois: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (East St. Louis)
Overcoming severe poverty in East St. Louis, Joyner-Kersee earned a scholarship to UCLA, where she starred in both basketball and track. She evolved into what many consider the greatest female athlete of the 20th century. Competing in four different Olympic games, she won three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze in the heptathlon and long jump. Her 1988 world record score in the heptathlon remains unbroken decades later.