3
GOLD
2
SILVER
0
BRONZE
Athlete Bio#
Age
Died (Aged 38)
1959-1998
Hometown
Long Beach, CA
Education
Jordan High School (Long Beach, Calif.) UCLA
Quick Facts
- Daughter of Robert and Florence Griffith
- One of five children
- Began running at age 7
- Won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games at age 14
- 1992 NCAA champion in 200-meter at UCLA
- Named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press and Athlete of the Year by Track and Field Magazine in 1988
- Appointed co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in 1993
- Inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame
- Mother to one daughter, Mary.
Olympic Experience
- 2-time Olympian; 5-time Olympic medalist (3 gold, 2 silver)
- Olympic Games Seoul 1988, gold (100m - Women, 200m - Women, 4 x 100m Relay - Women), silver (4 x 400m Relay - Women)
- Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984, silver (200m - Women)
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 1987 – gold (4 x 100m Relay - Women), silver (200m - Women)
- Years of participation: 200m - Women 1983, 1987; 4 x 100m Relay - Women 1987;
- Medals: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver)
- Gold – 1987 (4 x 100m Relay - Women);
- Silver – 1987 (200m - Women);
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 Viejo, California.
