Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence Griffith-Joyner, or “FloJo,” was one of the most awesome track and field stars in American history.  Florence was born in Los Angeles, in 1959, and was raised in the Jordan Downs public housing complex.  She was a complete powerhouse of a racer, specializing in explosive, supergirl runs.  She took the gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the Korean Olympics in 1988, breaking world records in both events. 

Florence was a total fashion queen; as the seventh out of eleven kids in her family, she learned early that if she was going to wearing anything else than hand-me-downs, she’d better start making her own clothes.  She sewed her own duds from an early age, and later became famous for her amazing elegance.  FloJo would race track in neon-pink Spandex, with her hair perfectly coiffed and curled, her face expertly made up, and her long fingernails painted a zillion colors.  She also had other hobbies, like unicycling, doing handstands, and taking care of crazy pets like rats and snakes!  After retiring from racing, she wrote poetry, a romance novel, and children’s books.  She also became a fashion designer, and started her own make-up line. 

Though her life wasn’t always without controversy, FloJo really showed the world how girls and women can be tough, strong, and beautiful.  She died in 1998, but she still owns the world records in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.  And no one will ever forget her white-hot sense of style.