Our hearts beat as one when the image of Flo-Jo is conjured. “I believe in the impossible because no one else does” – she’d quipped once, and she used to live by this adage as well. If there’s one name that is simultaneously synonymous with sporting excellence and iconic fashion, it’s Florence Griffith-Joyner. From her iconic one-legger to her trend-setting nails, Flo-Jo’s style was just as memorable as her track and field performances. So it should come as no surprise that her fashion legacy continues to shine in the sporting world and has rubbed off on others as well. Recent evidence of that came from sprinter Junelle Bromfield, who showed support to her boyfriend Noah Lyles and doubled up as a heartfelt ode to Flojo.

As Noah Lyles prepares for possibly his last Olympics appearance, his girlfriend Junelle Bromfield stood by his side in solidarity. However, she did it in a way that was eerily reminiscent of the legendary and inimitable Flo-Jo. Bromfield posted a story on Instagram wherein she shared a picture of nails being painted in support of Lyles’ Olympics campaign and its obvious they’ve both played their cards right and had been struck by Cupid’s arrow.

As is visible, the nails had initial NL with the Olympics logo painted on all fingers. The funky aesthetics showed her deep support for Noah Lyles but also proved just how deep Flo-Jo’s fashion impact runs. As the world knows, Florence Griffith-Joyner was a pioneer in unique nail styles. Her long nails on her left hand didn’t just prove to be iconic but also showed just how versatile styling can be. For starters, she adorned long nails and considered them an extension of her personality and we ought to say; she looked sporty in every single appearance of hers. She quipped once in a 1995 interview with Charlie Rose that she had actually grown her nails out. “These are my very decorated nails that I’ve been growing for a while” – she proudly stated, not as a sign of hubris but it came from a place of being confident in one’s skin.

Ever since then, there have been multiple nail trends that have emerged in the fashion world. From long to curved, nails now have a huge set of styles ready for use. But it all started from Flo-Jo’s iconic left hand. Her red, white, and blue nails represented America, and her two gold nails showed her goal in the 1988 Olympics.

That was the first step in merging sports with fashion and the world hasn’t looked back since. Even after 36 years, Flo-Jo is inspiring an athlete like Junelle Bromfield, that is something that one cannot understate. And as for Noah Lyles, his girlfriend isn’t the only one experimenting with nails this time – he too is doing his part.

Noah Lyles’ experimental nail color highlights his growing confidence 

There was something different with Noah Lyles when he entered Paris. Specifically, his nails were a little unique. Lyles had a subtle fashion statement to make, and he did it by painting his nails. The track and field star wrote the word “Icon” on his nails and it got a mixed reaction from fans. Some loved his boldness, while others called it a questionable decision. However, Lyles didn’t care about anyone’s opinions. This is merely an affectation for a man who is a hardcore anime, Yu-Gi-Oh and a Dragon Ball Z fan, so we are in awe of his spunk.

“You know, people like me because I do this. I’m just being myself,” Lyles said to US Weekly. He also noted that he understands that people have opinions and different reasons to believe them. But then Lyles admitted that it doesn’t matter. “To be honest, I’m so confident in myself that it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s funny at times,” Lyles said. So in a way, it seems Flo-Jo’s fashion impacts transcend all gender boundaries.

Perhaps that is the greatest achievement of the “Fastest Woman in the World.” She’s just as iconic an athlete as she’s a fashion icon. One does well being just one, for Flojo to do both at the same time? There might be no precedent for that.