Florence Griffith Joyner

Hello, my name is Florence Griffith Joyner, but you might know me by my nickname, 'Flo-Jo.' I was born on December 21st, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. Life in my house was always exciting, as I was the seventh of eleven children! From the moment I could, I loved to run. It wasn't just a sport for me; it was a feeling of freedom, almost like flying. I started competing in races when I was only 7 years old. By the time I was a teenager, my speed was already getting noticed. In 1973 and 1974, I won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games, which was a huge accomplishment for a young runner. Even back then, I knew I wanted to be more than just fast. I loved expressing myself through my clothes and hairstyles, choosing unique styles that showed the world exactly who I was.

Running was my passion, but chasing my dream wasn't always a straight path. After high school, I attended college at UCLA, but my family didn't have a lot of money to support my education and training. I had to work part-time jobs just to make ends meet, which made it difficult to focus on running. Thankfully, my coach, Bob Kersee, saw my potential and believed in me. He helped me find ways to stay in school so I could continue my training. All of that dedication and hard work finally paid off in 1984. That year, I made it to the Summer Olympics, which were being held right in my hometown of Los Angeles! Standing on the podium to receive a silver medal in the 200-meter race, with my home crowd cheering, was one of the most incredible feelings of my life. A few years later, in 1987, I married Al Joyner, who was also an Olympic champion. I became part of a family completely dedicated to sports and achieving greatness.

The year 1988 was truly my time to shine. It was the year my name became forever linked with speed. It all started at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July. On a windy day, I stepped onto the track for the 100-meter dash. When the race was over, the clock showed a time of 10.49 seconds. I had just set a new world record, a time so fast that no woman has ever beaten it. With that confidence, I headed to the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. I wanted to bring my whole personality to the world stage. I designed my own brightly colored running suits—some with only one leg covered, which people called 'one-leggers'—and wore my fingernails long and beautifully painted. On the track, I felt unstoppable. I won three gold medals, in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 4x100-meter relay. I also earned a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay. In the 200-meter final, I broke the world record again with a time of 21.34 seconds. That record also still stands today.

After reaching the highest heights in my sport in 1988, I felt it was time for a new chapter. I announced my retirement from professional running in February 1989. While I was known as an athlete, I had so many other creative passions I wanted to explore. I loved fashion and design, so I started my own clothing line. I even had the amazing opportunity to design the team uniforms for the Indiana Pacers basketball team. Beyond fashion, I wanted to inspire children, so I wrote children's books. I also served as the co-chair for the President's Council on Physical Fitness, where I traveled across the country encouraging kids to be healthy and active. It was important for me to show that you can be a world-class athlete and also an artist, a writer, and a leader in your community.

My life was full of speed, color, and passion. I lived to be 38 years old, and in that time, I chased my dreams with everything I had. Today, people still talk about my world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, which have never been broken. I hope when you think of me, you remember not just the medals and records, but the joy I found in running and the importance of being unapologetically yourself. Always work hard, follow your dreams, and don't be afraid to add your own special sparkle to the world.