What makes someone an iconic athlete? Is it their talent, their hard work, or their environment? Perhaps the real answer lies in their motivation. For Florence Griffith Joyner, this was undoubtedly the case. The legendary Olympian’s running career wasn’t ignited by sheer talent alone but by an unyielding drive. Unlike many others, her motivation wasn’t fame or glory—it was the desire to support her family.

Before becoming known for her flamboyant fashion and record-breaking speed, Flojo came from a struggling household. Her family faced significant financial hardships, and she experienced a tough childhood marked by instability. This challenging upbringing ingrained in her the importance of financial stability and security. It was this understanding and determination that propelled Florence Griffith Joyner to greatness.

But what was her family like, and what shaped her history? To fully appreciate Flojo’s incredible journey, we must delve into her early life and the factors that fueled her rise to athletic immortality.

Meet Florence Griffith Joyner’s Parents and Siblings

Florence Griffith Joyner was born in Los Angeles. Born to Robert and Florence Griffith, Flojo was the 7th of the 11 children that the couple had. One could only imagine how chaotic her household must have been. Her nickname was “Dee Dee.”  However, the stability in her life was short-lived as per parents filed for divorce when Flojo was just four. 

Robert was an electrician and Florence was a seamstress. As a result of this divorce, Flojo and the rest of her siblings moved with their mother to the Jordan Downs housing project in Watts, Los Angeles. It was an impoverished part of the city and hence signalled the start for the struggles of the young Flojo. However, rather fortunately it was also the time when she first discovered her talent. Flojo ran for the first time at the 92nd Street Elementary School when she was just seven. In her words, she did it to stand out from her siblings.

By the time she finished school in 1978, Florence Griffith Joyner had set multiple school records. However, the need to earn money briefly pushed her away from college. Flojo dropped out after her freshman year in 1979 to work as a bank teller. But it was here that her track coach Bob Kersee encouraged Flojo to return to university and seriously pursue running. That was the turning point that she needed and for the first time, Flojo found financial stability.

Who Are Florence Griffith Joyner’s Husband and Daughter?

After becoming a successful athlete, Florence Griffith Joyner could finally completely support her family. That also led to a positive impact on her romantic life. For a brief period, Flojo dated Greg Foster, the famous hurdler. The two were engaged but it didn’t work out. Eventually, Griffith began dating Al Joyner, the 1984 Olympics Triple-Jump champion. Things worked out for her and the pair married each other in 1987.

Three years later in 1990, Griffith Joyner gave birth to her daughter Mary Ruth Joyner. Mary is now a multi-talented artist who does singing, and songwriting and is also a performer. Like her mother, Mary too has gained fame for her talents. She discovered her love for music quite early and became a proficient songwriter during her teenage years. Mary also became popular for being a contestant in America’s Got Talent.More importantly, Flojo gave Mary what she lacked – a stable childhood. However, tragically the story of this relationship was cut short after Florence Griffith Joyner’s passing away in 1998.

Yet, despite that tragic event, the impact of Flojo stays as big as ever. She remains the biggest inspiration for athletes who want to take pride in themselves.