FloJo’s World Record Stands – 21 Years Later

Florence Joyner 100-meter world record holder

Best know as a 200 meter runner, Florence Griffith Joyner, ran the 100 meters in a world record time of 10.49 seconds during the quarter-finals of the US Olympic Trails in 1988.

    Sources indicate that this time was very likely wind-assisted, although at the time of the race the wind meter at the event measured 0.0, indicating no wind.

    Since 1997 the International Athletics Annual of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians has listed this performance as “probably strongly wind assisted, but recognized as a world record.”

    Griffith Joyner’s fastest time without wind assistance was 10.61 seconds, which still gave her the world record.

Flo Jo died at age 38

An incredible athlete, “FloJo” died at age 38, on September 21, 1998 from Cavernous Angioma, which refers to a congenital brain abnormality discovered during the autopsy that made Joyner subject to seizures.

   FloJo was an Olympic winner and known for her long, painted nails and dramatic running clothes. She is one of the world’s greatest athletes and 21 years later still holds the world record in the 100 meter dash.

   

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