Delorez Florence Griffith was born on 21 December 1959 in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts, one of eleven children raised primarily by her mother. She displayed exceptional running talent from childhood and attended California State University, Northridge, before transferring to UCLA to train under renowned coach Bob Kersee.
Griffith competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, winning silver in the 200m, before taking a hiatus to work in banking and as a hairdresser and nail designer, developing the striking personal style that would later become part of her public image once she returned to competition. She married triple jumper Al Joyner in 1987, becoming Florence Griffith-Joyner.
At the US Olympic Trials in July 1988, Griffith-Joyner ran the 100m in 10.49 seconds — a time so extraordinary it remains, decades later, the standing world record, never approached by any subsequent competitor. At the Seoul Olympics that year she won three gold medals and one silver, also setting the still-standing 200m world record, becoming one of the most dominant sprinters in Olympic history. She retired shortly after at the height of her fame and died suddenly in her sleep in 1998 at age 38 from a severe epileptic seizure.
Fear is such a self-imposed prison. To break out of it means facing risk on a daily basis and pushing through it.
Florence Griffith-Joyner set world records in both the 100m and 200m at the 1988 Seoul Olympics that remain unbroken decades later, becoming one of the most dominant and visually iconic sprinters in track and field history before her sudden death at 38.
- 1959Born in Los Angeles, California.
- 1984Wins silver in the 200m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
- 1987Marries Al Joyner, becoming Florence Griffith-Joyner.
- 1988Sets the still-standing 100m world record of 10.49 seconds at the US Olympic Trials.
- 1988Wins three gold medals and sets a 200m world record at the Seoul Olympics.
- 1998Dies suddenly from a severe epileptic seizure at age 38.
- ★ Holds the still-standing 100m and 200m world records, set in 1988
- ★ Won three gold medals and one silver at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
- ★ Widely regarded as one of the most dominant sprinters in Olympic history
- ★ Brought new visibility, style and glamour to track and field competition