Florence Griffith-Joyner(1959 — 1998)
Florence Griffith-Joyner
États-Unis
5 min read
American athlete specializing in sprinting, nicknamed “Flo-Jo.” She still holds the world records in the 100 m and 200 m set in 1988, and was one of the fastest and most high-profile sprinters in history.
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born December 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, California
- Set the 100 m world record at 10.49 s in July 1988 (still unbeaten)
- Won three gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games (100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m relay)
- Set the 200 m world record at 21.34 s in Seoul in 1988 (still unbeaten)
- Died prematurely on September 21, 1998, in Mission Viejo, at the age of 38
Works & Achievements
Set at the U.S. trials in Indianapolis, this time remains the women's world record more than thirty-five years later.
Achieved in the final of the Seoul Games, this record has never been approached since.
Gold in the 100 m, the 200 m and the 4×100 m relay, making her the queen of those Olympics.
Her first major Olympic medal, which heralded the triumphs of Seoul.
Her fourth medal of the Seoul Games, over a distance unusual for a sprinter.
Appointed by President Bill Clinton to promote physical fitness and sport in the United States.
Anecdotes
At the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Florence Griffith-Joyner did more than just run fast: she wore spectacular one-legged bodysuits and fingernails several centimeters long, painted in bright colors. Her flamboyant style earned her the nickname “Flo-Jo” and made her a true media star.
On July 16, 1988, at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Flo-Jo ran the 100 m in 10.49 seconds. This world record, still unbeaten today, was so astonishing that some wondered whether the wind had been measured correctly that day.
In Seoul, Florence Griffith-Joyner won three gold medals (100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m relay) and one silver (4×400 m relay). Her 200 m record of 21.34 seconds still stands, more than thirty-five years later.
Her sister-in-law, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, was also an Olympic champion: the family thus counted several of the greatest athletes in history among its members. Florence had married Al Joyner, himself an Olympic champion in the triple jump.
Florence Griffith-Joyner died suddenly in September 1998, at just 38 years old, the victim of an epileptic seizure linked to a vascular malformation in her brain. Her untimely death shocked the world of sport.
Primary Sources
Women's 100 m: 10.49 s, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), Indianapolis, July 16, 1988. Women's 200 m: 21.34 s, Seoul, September 29, 1988.
Florence Griffith-Joyner wins the 100 m and the 200 m, setting a new world record over the longer distance.
Florence Griffith-Joyner's death is attributed to positional asphyxia that occurred during an epileptic seizure, itself linked to a congenital cavernous malformation of the brain.
Key Places
Birthplace of Florence Griffith-Joyner, where she grew up in a modest neighborhood. It was there that she developed her passion for running at a very early age.
The stage for her feats at the 1988 Games, where she captured three Olympic titles and a world record. The site of her global triumph.
Site of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she ran the 100 m in 10.49 s. This world record has never been broken.
The institution where she studied and trained in collegiate track and field. It was there that she refined her sprinting technique.
The town where Florence Griffith-Joyner lived and where she died suddenly in 1998. Her passing at age 38 shocked the world of sport.
