Florence Griffith-Joyner, an American sprinter, won three gold medals and set two world records at the Seoul Games.
In the Olympic trials she ran the 100-meter in 10.49 seconds, and in the Olympic semifinals for the 200-meter she set another world record of 21.56 seconds. At the Seoul Games Griffith-Joyner also won gold for the 4 by 100-meter relay, and silver for the 4 by 400-meter.
Nicknamed Flo-Jo, Griffith-Joyner was especially memorable with her colorful unitards and long acrylic fingernails.
"Flo-Jo is particularly remembered by her looks," Professor Markula says. "This is not as common in men's sport where the results and athletic ability seem to be sufficient."
Today, no female sprinter has come close to beating Flo-Jo’s records, creating some controversy that they may have been wind assisted, or that she may have been taking performance-enhancing drugs. But Griffith-Joyner did not fail any drug tests in 1988.
In 1998, at age 38, she died, but is still called the “fastest woman of all time.” Her 100-meter time of 10.49 seconds still stands as the world record.
