![Olympic Runner Flojo’s Nails Through the Years: The Fastest Woman in the World’s 6-Inch Nails With Dynamic Designs & More Styles [PHOTOS]](https://wwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/flo-jo-nails-florence-joyner.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1 "Olympic Runner Flojo’s Nails Through the Years: The Fastest Woman in the World’s 6-Inch Nails With Dynamic Designs & More Styles [PHOTOS]")
Florence Griffith Joyner, best known as Flo-Jo, is the fastest woman in the world — setting the historic record in the women’s 100-meter sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games at 10.49 seconds. She also holds the record for the 200-meter sprint with 21.34 seconds.
Her place in history extends beyond the racetrack, too. Flo-Jo’s penchant for competing with long nails — often four-to-six inches long and emblazoned with dynamic colors and embellishments — has made her a pop culture star to this day. Bringing fashion and sports together, Flo-Jo memorably donned sensational sportswear throughout the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games trials, including a hooded bodysuit; “one-leggers”— a silhouette she referred to that described an asymmetrical running-suit with an exposed leg; a white crop top with matching bikini briefs over sheer white stockings; and wild prints and bold colors on bikinis worn over pant legs. At the event, she won Olympic medals for Team USA, including gold, in women’s track and field with nails done in red, white, blue and gold colors.
Flo-Jo died in 1998 at age 38 due to an epileptic seizure. Still, her legacy as an athlete and style icon lives on. Most recently, Sha’Carri Richardson of Team USA won silver in the 100-meter women’s track and field competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics with extra-long, sharp, embellished nails.
Here, see the best of Flo-Jo’s nails through the years.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1991
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner shows her nails during the 1991 Sports Festival.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1989
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner stands on the track before a race in 1989.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1988
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner shows her medals won at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1988
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith Joyner of the United States displays her medals at the 1988 Olympic Games during a studio feature in Seoul.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1988
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Joyner of the USA in 1988 after winning first in the women”s 100m at the Seoul Olympics in Seoul.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1988
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Joyner of the USA in 1988 after winning first in the women”s 100m at the Seoul Olympics in Seoul.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1987
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner poses for a picture in 1987.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1987
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith Joyner with her husband Al Joyner pose for a portrait in 1987.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1987
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith Joyner poses for a portrait in 1987.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1987
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner poses for a picture with her daughter Mary in 1987.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1987
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States wearing the hooded speed skating body suit prepares to run in the Women’s 200 metres final event at the 2nd IAAF World Athletics Championships on Sept. 3, 1987 at the Stadio Olimpico Olympic Stadium in Rome.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1986
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith poses for a picture in 1986.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1986
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith poses for a picture in 1986.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1986
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith poses for a picture in 1986.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, Circa 1984
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith Joyner trains in a weight room circa 1984.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1984
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith stands on the track before a race in 1984 during the Olympic Games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
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Flo-Jo’s Nails through the Years, 1984
Image Credit: Getty Images Florence Griffith Joyner of the United States prepares for the Women’s 200m metres event at the United States Olympic Trials (track and field) on June 20, 1984 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
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