The sprinting records that still stand - Florence Griffith Joyner - Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Florence Griffith Joyner - USA - Athletics - 100m & 200m - Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Florence Griffith Joyner's career was as brief as it was colourful. The Californian sprinter was known more for her outrageous outfits and long, painted fingernails as much as she was recognised for her sprinting achievements.

But all that stopped in 1988, when the Flo-Jo phenomenon took root amid a string of incredible performances culminating in double sprint gold at the Olympic Games in Seoul.

She was undoubtedly a sprinter of note, claiming silver in the 200m at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and again earning the runners-up spot in the world championships in Rome three years later.

But it was in the relatively humble surrounds of the US Olympic trials in 1988 that she made her astonishing breakthrough.

In the heats of the 100m she broke the world record held by compatriot Evelyn Ashford, knocking almost three tenths off the previous mark with an unheard of time of 10.49secs.

Controversy raged over the new time as the wind reading for the race was 0.0 while the triple jump equipment registered a wind speed of 4.3 miles per second a few yards away. Yet the record stood and only Flo-Jo herself has come within touching distance of the time ever since.

Her performances in Seoul were nothing short of remarkable. She dominated a world class field in the 100m final, beating Ashford and Heike Drechsler with blistering pace.

She clocked 10.54secs in the final after establishing a two-yard lead at the halfway stage and scorching away from the field in the second half of the race.

The 200m win was even more impressive, shattering the world record in the final with a time of 21.34secs to leave Jamaica's Grace Jackson, who beat her own personal best by a large, trailing about five metres behind in silver medal position.

Griffith Joyner's records for 100m and 200m have yet to be broken. At the Games in Seoul, she ran in both relays, winning a third gold medal in the 4x100m and a silver in the 4x400m. In 1998, Griffith Joyner died in her sleep at the age of 38, the victim of a form of epileptic seizure that led her to suffocate.

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[jeffreymorris]

Music track spoils the enjoyment of this archive footage of record level sprinting.

[MerkinMuffly]

Hard to believe with the advancement in performance enhancing drugs & training since Flo Jo's day, her records still haven't been broken.  Leads me to believe she was the best and still is.

[BreuckelensFinest]

To this day I've never seen anybody with better form, mechanics and technique! Florence Griffith-Joyner is the best I've ever seen, male or female.

[Southamericangirl]

Just look at her stride..! Beautiful! Just like she was.. RIP Flo-Jo..

[lalib.]

Today is the 25th anniversary of FloJo's death. She is the only woman to hold 2 athletics world records for more than 35 years. There are people in our world who can do admirable things without any doping. Credit to FloJo. REST IN PEACE❤❤❤❤❤😢

[CHEETAH]

FloJo was the reason I wanted to run as a kid. To this day, I still watch her videos for inspiration and for entertainment. She was an amazing woman and a phenomenal athlete. It's cool to see someone else feels the same.

[hellspells]

your smile on the finish line when you realize you have won is the image of you I want to remember.
Rip beautiful champion ❤️🙏

[sterlingrock]

The most elegant woman to ever set foot on the Olympic tracks and the greatest of all time.

[jayaye]

THE PRETTIEST woman sprinter I'VE ever seen. ❤
Continue to rest in paradise, beautiful. 💐

[angelangelov]

Her half-way in the race acceleration is insane! Just look at those strides!!

[thesage]

she had the most beautiful stride of any female sprinter...a virtual male power stride with high knees...

[RealLordGaga]

If she had dipped her body at the tape instead of raising her arms she would have had an even faster time. Poetry in motion. Just beautiful!

[joshuaforbes]

Who’s here in 2024? The last shot from the side of her legs shows just how truly powerful she was. This was one year after I was born. She is amazing!

[mannycalavera]

What blows me away is not just the speed, but her form. Everyone else on the track is a professional and one of the best in the world at what they do. And they look sloppy and untrained when compared. People will forever talk about steroid abuse and so on. But the most remarkable thing about her without a doubt was her stride and her technique.

[stevengarcia]

What a beautiful soul. I feel so happy to still be able to see what I missed when I was younger.

[Nukity]

Her ground contact time, and ability to get her leg back up, and then powerfully throw it back down is second to none. correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure she had one of the lowest measured ground contact times of any sprint athlete to this day. Both Male or Female.

[stevie]

FloJo's husband set the record straight long ago.  They purchased a $150 leg lift machine and she worked out on that thing darn-near all day long.  She trained non-stop, etc.  Also, what many are not aware of is not only did she past numerous drug tests while she was alive, but after she died, they ripped her body apart testing for all types of doping imaginable and found absolutely nothing.  She was thoroughly tested alive and after she passed, and found to be innocent.  Ok, let's just say she was doping...um, Marion Jones, childhood prodigy who was always expected to be Gold Medalist doped and didn't come close.  There was CLEARLY something in FloJo's training that got her where she was no matter what anyone says.

[tericaclark]

my girl still hold the records..love u Flo Jo always and forever.. Rest in Peace

[allanrabindran]

Flo Jo was the best of best. She got everything. Speed Charisma Power Grace Charm and the way she carried herself was a treat to watch. We cannot find another female athlete who would have all of such qualities.

[joeyrivera]

FloJo was so beautiful and graceful. She was one of a kind.