Florence Griffith Joyner
Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner (born Florence Delorez Griffith; December 21, 1959 – September 21, 1998), also known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete and the fastest woman ever recorded. She set world records in 1988 for the 100 m and 200 m. During the late 1980s, she became a popular figure due to both her record-setting athleticism and eclectic personal style.
Florence Griffith Joyner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Griffith Joyner in 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1993–1998 Serving with Tom McMillen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Bill Clinton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Arnold Schwarzenegger (as chairman) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lee Haney (as chair) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Florence Delorez Griffith December 21, 1959 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | September 21, 1998 (aged 38) Mission Viejo, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | El Toro Memorial Park, Lake Forest, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Flo-Jo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 126 lb (57 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 meters, 200 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Tiger World Class Athletic Club West Coast Athletic Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | 100m: 10.49 w WR 200m: 21.34 WR 400m: 50.89 4 × 100m: 41.55 4 × 400m: 3:15.51 AR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Griffith Joyner was born and raised in California. She was athletic from a young age and began running at track meets as a child. While attending California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she continued to compete in track and field. While still in college, she qualified for the 100 m 1980 Olympics but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott. She made her Olympic debut four years later, winning a silver medal in the 200 meter distance at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. At the 1988 U.S. Olympic trials, Griffith set a new world record in the 100-meter sprint. She won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics.
In February 1989, Griffith Joyner abruptly retired from athletics. She remained a pop culture figure through endorsement deals, acting, and designing. She died in her sleep during an epileptic seizure caused by a birth defect in 1998 at age 38. Griffith Joyner is buried at the El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest.