Florence Griffith
Three-time Olympic Champion.
Griffith graduated from U.C.L.A. where she began training under Bob Kersee. She
finished fourth at the 1983 World Championships at 200 meters and then took the silver
medal at the same event at the 1984 Olympics and the 1987 World Championships. At
the 1988 Olympic trials, Griffith shocked the world running a world record 10.49
seconds in a quarterfinal heat of the 100 meters. There remains to this day some
question about the wind readings at the time of the race; however, the record still
stands and the other performances that season backed up her time. She won both the
100 meters and 200 meters and the trials and became the immediate favorite to win
both events at the Olympics. Known as Florence Griffith-Joyner, or Flojo, she set
an Olympic record of 10.62 seconds in the quarterfinals. Flojo then ran a wind-aided
10.54 to win the gold medal. In the 200 meters, Flojo ran a world record of 21.56
in the semifinals and came back later in the day to set a world record of 21.34 second
to win the gold medal. Griffith also won another gold medal as part of the 4x100
meter relay and a silver on the 4x400 meter relay. She retired in February of 1989
and tragically died in her sleep on September 21, 1998 at the age of 38.
| EVENT |
PLACE |
POINTS |
MONEY |
EVENT WINS |
| 1984 Women's Final |
8 |
13 1/2 |
$1,350 |
Golf |
| TOTALS |
13 1/2 |
$1,350 |
1 |