‘Flojo’ retires to act, write

Press, 27 February 1989, Page 21

‘Flojo’ retires to act, write

NZPA-Reuter New York The triple Olympic champion, Florence Griffith Joyner, announced her retirement from athletics on Saturday to concentrate on a career in acting and writing. “I have decided to run on a different track to strive for the best of which I am capable in a different field,” said Griffith Joyner, aged 29, at a tearful news conference in New York. The American world record holder in the women’s 100 m and 200 m

announced her retirement two days after receiving the Jesse Owens Award as the outstanding athlete of 1988. Joyner, who became widely known as “Flojo,” won gold medals in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay at last year’s Seoul Olympics, and a silver in the 4 x 400 m relay. She told the news conference she regarded her world record in the Olympic 200 m as her top achievement. Two months earlier she set the record for the 100 m at the American

Olympic trials. Her time of 10.49 s knocked 0.27 s off the previous record. “I know that other athletes will surpass the records I have set as I was able to surpass some of the records which had been set before me, and I hope that all those who are serious athletic competitors will draw deep aspirations from our accomplishments,” she said. Griffith Joyner, who is married to her coach, the 1984 Olympic triple jumper, Al Joyner, became as famous for her

exotic running suits and long, painted fingernails as for her feats on the track. Since the Olympics she has received numerous offers to endorse products, and her Flojo doll was recently unveiled Griffith Joyner, who has always rejected rumours that she has taken muscle-building steroid drugs, was asked if her retirement had anything to do with the possible introduction of tougher drug testing procedures. “I support athletes against drugs,” she said.