Florence Griffith Joyner reinvented track and field. Both her 100m and 200m world record still stand. Find out more about her legacy.
Athletes do not come much like Flo-Jo again.
At the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul, 1988, Florence Griffith Joyner won gold in the 100, 200, and 4×100 meters. She also holds the world records in these events, which have stood for almost 30 years.
Beyond the music, however, Flo-Jo became a cultural icon due to her distinct style and her ability to combine athletics and fashion; this legacy continues to this day. The legendary tennis player Serena Williams demonstrated in 2021 how much of an influence Flo-Jo still has by competing at the Australian Open in a one-legged catsuit—the sprinter’s trademark during her record-breaking 1988 season.
Williams told journalists based in Melbourne, “Flo-Jo [and] watching her fashion, which was constantly changing; her outfits were always amazing. “Flo-Jo served as the inspiration for this design. “Oh my God, this is so brilliant,” I thought to myself.
Flo-Jo’s talent extended far beyond her early 1989 competition retirement. She became a representation of female strength, dabbling in acting, fashion, and doll design. She also actively became a spokesperson for numerous brands and for President Bill Clinton’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Her teammate and then sister-in-law Jackie Joyner-Kersee told PBS last year that “Florence transcended our sport.” “She moved track and field to the main page from the sports section. She attracted additional people who were curious about our sport as well as about her.”
Florence Griffith Joyner: World records & Olympic golds
Considering the fact that the American team did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Griffith Joyner was a two-time Olympian and three-time qualifying competitor. She won her first of five Olympic medals, a silver medal in the 200 meters, four years later in Los Angeles in 1984.
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