How Did Florence Griffith Joyner Change the Track and Field World for the Better? Everything You Need to Know About Her Epic Career, Achievements, and More

Some athletes become successful in their respective sports. Some become the greatest in their sport. But there are some athletes whose impact made their sports a household name. Their contribution transcends the game itself and become a part of history. Some include Pele in Football, Billie Jean King in Tennis, and Micheal Jordan in basketball. In track and field, that honor goes to Florence Griffith Joyner.

A lot of credit for the popularity of track and field today goes to her. She brought the sport from a small audience to the mainstream giant it has become now. Some of her records stand to this day even though three decades have passed since she made them. Other than her sporting legacy, she is also known for her style on the court. Unlike her competitors, she used to sport long painted nails and had one-legged suits. To this day, she is one of the most popular track stars of all time. Here’s more about her achievements and impact on the court and off the court-

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Unmatched Legacy and Records

Florence Griffith Joyner was barely a child when she started racing. She was born in Los Angeles and was the seventh of eleven children in the family. Griffith showed her class in athleticism early when she won the Jesse Owens Youth Games twice during her teenage years. But things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. She had to drop out of college and take on the job of a bank teller to support her family. This was when she was nineteen. Her athletics career went into a standstill. But, Bob Kersee, her college coach got her financial aid. She thus got admission into UCLA.

Her first attempt to qualify for the Olympics was for the 1980 Moscow edition, where she would finish last in the qualifiers. However, it would mean nothing much as the United States would boycott that Olympics as a protest to the Soviet’s invasion of Afghanistan. She would qualify for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics which was her debut. Griffith won her first medal in that edition, winning the silver in 200m. However, it was the 1988 Olympics in Seoul that would define her career. During the quarter-finals of the trial, she would set the world record in 100 meters with a time of 10.49 seconds. This would send shockwaves to everyone in the track and field world. That record is yet to be broken to this day. She would also set the American record of 21.77 seconds in the 200m trial.

She would win three golds in that Olympics in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. This was a historic achievement at that time. Many suspected her of doping and she had to pass through many levels of testing to confirm her innocence. This success would lead her to get many brand endorsements mainly in the country of Japan. She would also get offered roles in TV shows and had a doll made in her likeness. Her success made her a household name. However, she took a very early retirement.

How Did Florence Griffith Joyner’s Successful Career Come to an End?

Five months after her immense triumph in Seoul, Florence Griffith Joyner would surprise the whole nation by announcing her retirement from athletics. Many would struggle to understand the decision as she was on the cusp of superstardom. Years later, she would talk about her retirement in an interview. She said, “I retired in 1989 because I could no longer train 100%, in which I’m used to training. If I can’t give it my all, I don’t want to give it at all.” 

She decided to embark on motherhood and a fashion design career. She would serve on the advisory Committee for physical fitness in the Clinton administration. Finally, she would attempt to make a comeback in 1996, but an injury would rule her out. In 1998, she passed away in her sleep after a suspected epileptic seizure. Florence Griffith Joyner’s legacy will always remain at the top of the track and field athletes, on-court and off-court. She will be remembered as an icon. To this day, she’s still the holder of the 100m and 200m records.