Florence Griffith Joyner
American sprinter who set world records in 1988.
Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner, widely known as Flo-Jo, was an American sprinter who broke world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter events in 1988. She rose to fame in the late 1980s not only for her incredible speed but also for her distinctive and flashy personal style.
Born in Los Angeles, California, she was the seventh of eleven children. Her father was an electrician, and her mother worked as a seamstress. The family initially lived in Littlerock before moving to the Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts. She started running in weekend track meets through the Sugar Ray Robinson Organization while in elementary school and won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games two years in a row at ages 14 and 15. At Jordan High School, she convinced her teammates to wear tights with their uniforms, showing an early interest in fashion. She finished sixth at the CIF California State Meet as a senior in 1978 and set high-school records in sprinting and the long jump before graduating.
She attended California State University, Northridge, where she was part of a national championship-winning track team coached by Bob Kersee. Financial difficulties forced her to drop out and work as a bank teller, but Kersee secured aid for her to return, this time at UCLA, where he had moved as a coach. She qualified for the 100-meter final at the 1980 Olympic trials but finished last; she also narrowly missed a spot in the 200 meters. The U.S. boycott of those Olympics made the results moot. She left UCLA without completing her degree and later earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine in 1987.
At the first World Championships in Athletics in 1983, she placed fourth in the 200 meters. The following year, she qualified for the 200 meters at the Los Angeles Olympics with the second-fastest time at the trials. With Evelyn Ashford sidelined by injury, Griffith won a silver medal, finishing behind teammate Valerie Brisco-Hooks. After the 1984 Games, she ran less frequently, though she did win the 100-meter IAAF Grand Prix Final in 11.00 seconds. She skipped the 1985 U.S. National Championship and returned to bank work, styling hair and nails in her spare time. She married Olympic triple jump champion Al Joyner in 1987.
She returned to serious training in April 1987 and finished second in the 200 meters at the World Championships in Rome that year. Track and Field News ranke
- born
- December 21, 1959, Los Angeles, California
- died
- September 21, 1998, at age 38, in her sleep during an epileptic seizure caused by a birth defect
- field
- Track and field (sprints)
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- World records in 100 m (10.49 s) and 200 m (21.34 s); three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics
Quick Facts
- Office
- Co-chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
- President
- Bill Clinton
- Term Start
- 1993
- Term End
- 1998
- Predecessor
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (as chairman)
- Successor
- Lee Haney (as chair)
- Alongside
- Tom McMillen
- Birth Name
- Florence Delorez Griffith
- Birth Date
- 1959-12-21
- Birth Place
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Death Date
- 1998-09-21
- Death Place
- Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Florence Griffith was born in Los Angeles, California, the seventh of eleven children. Her family lived in Littlerock, California, before moving to the Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts. She joined the Sugar Ray Robinson Organization in elementary school, running in weekend track meets, and won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games at ages 14 and 15. She ran track at Jordan High School in Los Angeles, where she showed an early interest in fashion, persuading teammates to wear tights with their uniforms. By graduation in 1978, she had set high-school records in sprinting and long jump.
Griffith attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and later the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), competing in track and field. While still in college, she qualified for the 100 meters at the 1980 Olympics but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott. She made her Olympic debut in 1984, winning a silver medal in the 200 meters. At the 1988 U.S. Olympic trials, she set a new world record in the 100-meter sprint (10.49 seconds), a mark that remains controversial due to possible wind assistance. She won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics (100 m, 200 m, 4 × 100 m relay) and a silver in the 4 × 400 m relay.
In February 1989, Griffith Joyner abruptly retired from athletics, citing new business opportunities. She remained a pop culture figure through endorsement deals, acting, and designing. She died in 1998 at age 38 in her sleep during an epileptic seizure caused by a birth defect, and is buried at El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest.
Reader's Guide
Florence Griffith Joyner's significance lies in her extraordinary sprint performances in 1988, when she set world records in both the 100 meters and 200 meters that still stand as of her death. Her 100-meter record of 10.49 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials was the largest improvement in the world record since electronic timing, but the result has been disputed due to likely illegal wind assistance; the IAAF has not annulled it, but it is listed as 'probably strongly wind assisted' by the Association of Track and Field Statisticians. Her 200-meter record of 21.34 seconds, set at the 1988 Olympics, remains unbroken. Beyond her records, she became a global icon for her flamboyant style—including long, painted fingernails and one-legged racing suits—which brought attention to women's track and field. Her retirement in February 1989, days before a vote on mandatory random drug testing, has been a subject of speculation, though the article does not link the two. Her legacy includes four Olympic medals and a lasting impact on the sport's visibility.
Did You Know?
- Griffith Joyner won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games two years in a row, at ages 14 and 15.
- She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1983.
- Her 100-meter world record of 10.49 seconds is listed as 'probably strongly wind assisted' by the Association of Track and Field Statisticians.
- She died in her sleep during an epileptic seizure caused by a birth defect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Florence Griffith Joyner?
Flo-Jo, born December 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, was an American sprinter who became a global sensation in the late 1980s for her blistering speed and unmistakable fashion sense.
What world records did Florence Griffith Joyner set?
In 1988 she established the 100-meter world record at 10.49 seconds and the 200-meter mark at 21.34 seconds, records that still stand today.
How did Florence Griffith Joyner die?
She passed away in her sleep on September 21, 1998, at age 38, when an epileptic seizure triggered by a congenital heart defect proved fatal.
Why is Florence Griffith Joyner important in track and field?
She redefined what was possible in women's sprinting, capturing three gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and inspiring generations of athletes with both her performance and her bold personality.
What were Florence Griffith Joyner's Olympic achievements?
At the 1988 Seoul Games she won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 4x100-meter relay, cementing her status as the dominant sprinter of her era.
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