How many world records does Florence Griffith-Joyner still have? Exploring top achievements of greatest female American sprinter

Legendary former Olympian Florence Griffith-Joyner, who passed away in 1998, left behind a lasting track-running legacy that still lives on even years after her death. Her world records in women's 100m and 200m, in particular, are still intact despite the passage of time.

Griffith-Joyner set both the 100m and 200m world records in a matter of two months. During the 1988 US Olympic trials in July, the American icon secured her ticket to the Seoul Summer Games while setting a new 100m record of 10.49s. It stands today even after 36 years. There is controversy surrounding her 100m record though, with questions raised about the wind readings.

During her race, the tailwind was recorded at ±0.0m/s as compared to the legal limit for wind assistance: +2.0m/s. It became more controversial when the men's triple jump which was happening at the same time as her race recorded a tailwind of +4.3m/s.

Griffith-Joyner went on to set another world record in September 1988, during the 200m run of the Seoul Olympics. During the semi-finals of the Olympics, Flo-Jo stunned everyone, clocking a time of 21.56s to complete the race. It was a new world record in the women's 200m category. The then-28-year-old Griffith-Joyner went on to break the same record in the finals, clocking in a new time of 19.34s. No one has come close to it to date.

Only Jamaica's Elaine Thomson-Herah has managed to pose a challenge to Florence Griffith-Joyner's 100m world record. recording 10.54s at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic.

Some other achievements of Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence Griffith-Joyner remains a Track & Field icon (IMAGE: GETTY)

Griffith-Joyner is considered one of the trailblazers in women's sprinting, having won five Olympic medals—three gold and two silver— across two Olympics: Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul Games 1988. She also clinched a world championship title in 1987.

In 1988, the Los Angeles-born athlete was honored with Female Athlete of the Year and the Athlete of the Year awards by the Associated Press and Track & Field magazine respectively. In addition to that, Griffith-Joyner was also named the co-chairperson of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in 1993.

Florence Griffith-Joyner wanted to break the 400m world record as well and was training for it. However, her bid to become the triple world record holder was cut short after she sustained tendinitis in her right leg and could not make a comeback to the track.