Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence winning an Olympics race (http://www.pocanticohills.org/womenenc/joyner.htm)

My hero is Florence Griffith-Joyner. She was an Olympic track star. Florence is my hero because she inspires me to run faster and be a better athlete than I am now.

Born December 21 in Mojave, California, she lived with her dad in the Mojave Desert. She would chase Jackrabbits for her entertainment. (They are one of the fastest animals on earth, and that’s how she got so fast!)

At the age of 5 she was already fast and strong. Florence ran track at 7. She also won the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation Competition, and when she was 14 she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games. She has been in the Olympics twice and won the gold medal!!!

Florence married Al Joyner in 1984. He was her supervisor and workout partner. They didn’t have any kids. Flo-Jo, her nickname, received a lot of attention from her fans. In the Olympics one time, she painted her fingernails red, white, and blue three times and the last nail she painted gold. She painted her fingernails red, white, and blue for the country. She painted the last one gold for the gold medal. Her fans were proud and loved her.

Unfortunately, she died in 1998 at the age of 37 from an unexpected heart attack. My hero is Florence Griffith-Joyner. She is a sports hero and inspires me to run faster and be a better athlete. Who is your hero?