Widely recognized as the fastest woman of all time, Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner or “Flo Jo” is a household name. Long before the emergence of Sha ‘Carri Richardson, Joyner was undoubtedly one of the world’s fastest sprinters. She is undisputed champion in the 100 meters (10:49 seconds) and 200 meters (21:34 seconds) She stills holds the fastest times in these events. These records have stood since 1988. Joyner, in ways similar to Richardson, cultivated a sense of personal style and beauty. As an athlete and Black woman, she captured the world’s attention. Her accomplishments set the standard for athletes in the track and field world.
Born in 1959 in Los Angeles, California, Joyner developed an early interest in track and field. She chased jackrabbits to increase her speed. While in elementary school, she joined the Sugar Ray Robinson Organization and participated in track meets on weekends. At the age of 14, she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games. At the time of her high school graduation in 1978, Joyner was the anchor on the relay team.
She entered college in 1978 at California State University, Northridge. She later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, she trained under Coach Bob Kersee. Joyner qualified for her first Summer Olympics in 1980 but could not compete because the US boycotted the Olympics. She made her debut in the 1984 Olympics. She won a silver medal in the 200m . Disappointment with her performance at the Olympics led to a semiretirement. At the 1988 Olympic Trials, Griffith-Joyner set a world record in the 100m sprint.
In addition to her athletic talent, Joyner had an eye for fashion. She suggested the track team wear t tights with the uniform. In addition, she became a cultural icon with her 6-inch long creatively decorated fingernails and her unique and appealing form-fitting racing suits.
After returning from the hiatus, she trained fiercely before the 1988 U.S. Olympic Games under her new coach, husband Al Joyner. She set the record in the Olympic trials for three fastest times in a 100-meter race by a woman with the fastest time (10:49 seconds). Her record is still unbroken. In the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, she won three gold medals (100m, 200m and 4X 400m relay She also received the Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur performer.
Joyner retired from track and field in 1988. She remained active in the sport. She was appointed by President Clinton as co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in 1993. Joyner established a foundation for children in need. In 1995, Joyner was inducted into the Track and Field Hall of Fame. She began training for the Olympics, but problems with her right Achilles tendon hindered the comeback. In September 1998, Joyner died unexpectedly of an epileptic seizure. She was only 38 years old. Joyner is still widely recognized as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time. Her athletic prowess and beauty and grace place her heads and shoulders above the rest of the field.
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This post was previously published on Historian Speaks.
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