Delorez Florence Griffith Joyner
TRACK & FIELD
Birthplace:Los Angeles, California
December 21, 1959 - September 21, 1998
Florence was married to Al Joyner, sister of Jackie Joyner-Kersee. She earned two gold
medals and the world records in the 100m (10.49 sec) and 200m (21.34 sec) at the
1988 Seoul Olympics. "Flo-Jo" also earned a third gold medal in the 4x100m relay and
a silver for the 4x400m relay team. With her achievements in the 1988 Olympics, she earned the title
"World's Fastest Woman" and she became the first American woman to win four medals in one Olympic
year.
President Bill Clinton appointed her to replace Arnold Schwazeneggar as chair of the President's Council
on Physical Fitness in Sports. This established her as the first woman to recieve this position.
On September 21, 1998, Florence's husband could not awaken his wife and called 911. She was
pronounced dead upon the arrival of the ambulance. She will be truly missed but not forgotten.