Florence Griffith-Joyner

Flo-Jo — the fastest woman in history whose world records of 10.49s (100m) and 21.34s (200m) have stood for over 35 years.

Delorez Florence Griffith Joyner was born in Los Angeles in 1959 and became the fastest woman in history — her world records of 10.49 seconds for 100m and 21.34 seconds for 200m, set in 1988, have stood for over 35 years without serious challenge. She competed for the USA from 1980 to 1989. She won 3 Olympic gold medals at the Seoul Games in 1988 — 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay — plus a silver in the 4x400m. Her 100m world record of 10.49 seconds was set in Indianapolis at the US Olympic Trials on 16 July 1988; her 200m world record of 21.34 seconds was set at Seoul. Her combination of extraordinary speed with flamboyant style — colourful one-legged running suits, elaborately decorated fingernails up to 3 inches long — made her the most visually distinctive athlete at the 1988 Games. She won the World Championship 200m title in 1987. She retired abruptly in 1989, citing desire for family life — her sudden retirement generated ongoing speculation about performance-enhancing drugs, which she consistently denied. She died of an epileptic seizure in September 1998 aged 38. Her world records remain the most durable in track and field — untouched across four decades despite vast improvements in training, technology and track surfaces.

Explosive acceleration, powerful stride, flamboyant style

Considered fastest woman ever, records still stand today

• Olympic Gold 100m, 200m, 4x100m Seoul 1988
• Olympic Silver 4x400m Seoul 1988
• World Champion 200m 1987
• World Record 100m (10.49s – still stands)
• World Record 200m (21.34s – still stands)
• Associated Press Female Athlete of Year 1988