Florence Griffith Joyner

Florence Griffith Joyner (December 21, 1959 - September 21, 1998), widely known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete and the fastest woman ever recorded. She set world records in both the 100 metres and 200 metres in 1988 that still stand today. She was a four-time Olympic medalist and became a cultural icon during the late 1980s for both her record-setting performances and her distinctive personal style.

Griffith Joyner grew up in California and was athletic from a young age. She attended California State University, Northridge and the University of California, Los Angeles, competing in track and field throughout her college years. She qualified for the 100 metres at the 1980 Olympics but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott. She made her Olympic debut at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, winning a silver medal in the 200 metres. At the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, she set a new world record in the 100 metres, and went on to win three gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Griffith Joyner retired abruptly from athletics in February 1989. She remained a prominent public figure through endorsement deals, acting, and fashion design. She was married to Al Joyner, an Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump who also served as her coach. In 1998, at the age of 38, she died in her sleep from an epileptic seizure caused by a congenital brain condition.