Florence Griffith Joyner: The life and tragic death of the fastest woman of all time
In the summer of , Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce embarked on an epic battle for Olympic gold in the women’s on-Herah was triumphant, beating her Jamaican teammate and crossing the line in year-old did not stop there. Just weeks later, she ran a personal best of to win the m at the Prefontaine Classic in e this impressive time, Thompson-Herah is yet to break the world record. Fraser-Pryce hasn't surpassed it either. The record still belongs to Florence Griffith Joyner, who ran at the US Olympic trials in The American also holds the world record for the women’s m, managing to win a gold medal at the Seoul Olympic Games in Griffith Joyner, nicknamed Flo Jo, was known for her one-legged spandex bodysuits, six-inch nails, and long-flowing eclectic personal style went hand in hand with a brilliant career on the track, but it all ended in tragedy when Griffith Joyner died in , aged GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the dramatic life and death of Flo Jo, one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The early career of Florence Griffith Joyner
Griffith Joyner was born in Los
Florence Griffith-Joyner
African American track star Florence Griffith-Joyner was an outstanding female sprinter of her generation, winning three gold medals at the Seoul Olympics in
Born in Los Angeles, California on December 21, , Florence Delorez Griffith grew up in housing project in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles as the seventh of eleven children. her father would often take the family to the Mojave Desert to let them chase and try to catch Jackrabbits, which are one of the fastest animals on earth. Flo was the only sibling to actually catch one and the family soon gave her the nickname "Jackrabbit". Only seven, Florence won her first race, the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation Competition in Los Angeles. At the age of 14, she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games. Before graduating in , she had broken Los Angeles Jordan High School's records in sprints and long jump.
Following graduation, Griffith competed at California State Northridge under the legendary sprint coach Bob Kersee and helped them win the national championship in Unable to afford college, Flo Jo dropped out for two years and worked as a bank teller. When her old coach landed
Florence Griffith Joyner
Olympic gold medalist Florence Joyner brought style to track and field with form-fitting bodysuits, six-inch fingernails, and amazing speed. She still holds world records in the and meter events.
Who Was Florence Joyner?
At the Summer Olympics, Florence Joyner, also known as &#;Flo Jo,&#; won a silver medal in the meter run. She married fellow athlete Al Joyner, the brother of famed athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee. At the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Joyner took home three gold medals and a silver. She and her coach, Bob Kersee, came under media speculation when rumors spread that she might have been using performance-enhancing drugs to improve her time. Joyner died unexpectedly in September , at age 38, after suffering an epileptic seizure. She still holds world records in the and meter events.
Early Life
Olympian Florence Joyner, known widely as &#;Flo Jo,&#; was born Florence Delores Griffith on December 21, , in Los Angeles, California. Joyner began running at the age of 7, and her gift for speed soon became apparent. At the age of 14, she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games. She later competed for Jordan High School, where s
London The real Florence Griffith-Joyner
The women met at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a breeding ground for sporting greats including baseball star Jackie Robinson and tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors.
Even at that time, Griffith-Joyner had a flamboyant look and she shared fashion ideas with Joyner-Kersee and her friends.
Through Joyner-Kersee, Griffith-Joyner met her friend's brother Al and the pair married a year before the Seoul Games.
"I was fortunate enough she ended up with my brother," continued the year-old.
"I now have a continuing relationship with my niece [Griffith-Joyner's daughter Mary].
"I see Florence in Mary every time I see her."
Mary was six when her mother died. Joyner-Kersee explained that Griffith-Joyner had a rare disease and a lesion on her brain that caused seizures, adding that it was a problem that only surfaced when she gave birth to her daughter.
Her sudden death in only aroused further suspicion from athletes., external But Joyner-Kersee said they showed a "lack of respect".
"They should not degrade Florence's name and should allow her daughter, as sh
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