Florence griffith joyner medals

Florence Griffith Joyner, Track Sprinter born

This date marks the birth of Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1959. She was a Black track athlete who won three gold medals and one silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.

Florence “Flo-Jo” Delorez Griffith-Joyner was born in Los Angeles, CA.   She was the seventh of eleven children born to Robert, an electronic engineer, and Florence Griffith, a seamstress. The family lived in Littlerock, California, before Florence Griffith moved with her children to the Jordan Downs public housing complex in the Watts section of Los Angeles.

When Griffith was in elementary school, she joined the Sugar Ray Robinson Organization and ran in weekend track meets. At age 14 and 15, she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games two years in a row. Griffith ran track at Jordan High School in Los Angeles.

Showing an early interest in fashion, Griffith persuaded the track team members to wear tights with their uniforms. As a high school senior in 1978, she finished sixth at the CIF California State Meet behind future teammates Alice Brown and Pam Marshall. Ne

Florence Griffith Joyner

Hall Of Fame Bio #


Florence “FloJo” Griffith Joyner is one of the most decorated Olympic female sprinters in American history, winning three gold and two silver medals across two Olympic Games. The Los Angeles native began racing at age 7, but gave up sports at age 19 to support her family. While working as a bank teller, Griffith Joyner was recruited by legendary sprint coach Bob Kersee to begin running again. She won a silver medal in the 200-meter at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 and attracted attention for her fashion sense, flair and eye-catching spandex racing suits. Griffith Joyner was disappointed with the outcome, however, and even considered retiring from the sport. Four years later, she earned three gold medals at the Seoul 1988 Games and set world records in the 100 and 200. Upon retiring from track, Griffith Joyner designed the uniforms for the Indiana Pacers. She also created a foundation for underprivileged children and served as co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. She passed away on Sept. 21, 1998 in Mission

Florence Joyner

1959-1998

Who Was Florence Joyner?

Florence Joyner, also known as “Flo Jo,” was an American sprinter and Olympic athlete. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, she won a silver medal in the 200-meter run. She later married fellow Olympian Al Joyner, the brother of famed athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee. In 1988, she set world records in the 100- and 200-meter events that still stand today. At the 1988 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 used performance-enhancing drugs to improve her times. Joyner vigorously denied these accusations, and they were never proven. Joyner died unexpectedly in September 1998, at age 38, after suffering an epileptic seizure.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Florence Delorez Griffith-Joyner
BORN: December 21, 1959
DIED: September 21, 1998
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, California
SPOUSE: Al Joyner (1987-1998)
CHILD: Mary
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Sagittarius

Early Life of a Collegiate Champion

Florence Joyner, know

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