Sometimes, athletes can become so iconic that they transcend the sport that gave them the status in the first place. Similarly, while it has been more than a quarter of a century since her death, Florence Griffith Joyner remains one of the most iconic names in women’s sports. Newer generations of runners have come and gone, but Flo-Jo’s world records have stood the test of time as her name continues to inspire every rising star who aspires to become a celebrity track star one day. But the late sprinter’s legacy seems to be in good hands nonetheless.

September 21 1998 was the unfortunate day the track and field phenom left this mortal world. Like every year, the date is remembered by fans as a sad day for the sport. But thankfully, there a number of women athletes today who can carry Flo-Jo’s torch forward to make sure her memory lives for decades to come.

Flo-Jo’s impacts are still felt today, thanks to modern-day superstars

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Griffith Joyner’s daughter Mary recently took to Instagram to remember the 3x Olympic gold medalist on her death anniversary. Captioned, “I Miss You Mommy,” the IG story captures Mary’s tender wounds that still haven’t healed properly. Losing your parents is never, ever easy, and the post proves the point yet again. However, Mary should find solace in the fact that her mother continues to be a name that evokes significant reverence all over the USA and beyond.

However, it’s not like Florence Griffith’s memory is in any danger of fading away into oblivion. For there are some enigmatic stars in the USA who can proudly cite Flo-Jo as one of their inspiration, and not just in the way they haul medals at competitions. The late runner was widely known for her eccentric fashion senses, including fluorescent colors, bright leotards, and long perfectly designed nails. Reminds you of someone you know? That’s right, we’re talking about none other than the enigmatic Sha’Carri Richardson.

Richardson’s out-of-the-box style statement has made fans frequently compare between the Dallas native and the iconic Flo-Jo. Vogue even called Sha’Carri “…the Flo-Jo of our time,” and the 2024 Olympic gold medalist has embraced the same as a compliment. “If the amazing Flo-Jo had long nails, there was no excuse why I couldn’t have long nails,” SCR was heard saying earlier this year. While she also admitted that her family plays a big role in her fashion output, Richardson couldn’t help but tilt her head toward the veteran who elevated women’s track sports to a whole new level. But Richardson certainly isn’t the only one who paid homage to the late phenome.

Stars from other domains nod their head at the late icon

While Jordan Chiles’ Parisian campaign didn’t exactly turn out to be the way she wanted it to, it wasn’t too shabby either. A gold with her team, and marginally missing out on her individual bronze in the women’s floor exercise, Chiles’ performance at the French capital last month was impressive, to say the least. While the UCLA Bruins gymnast boasts a long list of achievements under her belt, her status as a fashion icon is also apt. She was spotted at the New York Fashion Week earlier this month, making her debut at the prestigious event, as she looked dapper in her gymnastics leotard-inspired look. Naturally, for someone of her status, being ignorant of Flo-Jo’s legacy is impossible, and Chiles isn’t one to not acknowledge those who came before her.

“She was always known for having long nails. So I thought: ‘Okay, if she was able to do that on track, why can’t we do that in other sports? Why can’t I do that with gymnastics?’ ” Chiles told Harper’s Bazaar in July. Chiles has often claimed that her physical appearance has attracted criticism from the gymnastics community, where women are supposed to look a certain way, but looking at Flo-Jo, she found the confidence to portray herself as she wanted to and turn a deaf ear to the naysayers.

But Richardson and Chiles aren’t the only figures who made their admiration of Flo-Jo evident. Tennis legend Serna Williams paid tribute to the sprinter at the 2021 Australian Open where she wore a Flo-Jo-inspired unitard. Pop icon Beyonce also chose Griffith Joyner as her Halloween costume, reminding fans how the Olympian set new standards for the ones who followed. Are you also a fan, like so many from around the world? Share your admiration with us in the comment section!