Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo, was a track and field powerhouse. She raised eyebrows with her astounding accomplishments, fierce fashion sense, and lightning-fast speed. The women’s 200m race from the Seoul, South Korea, 1988 Summer Olympics set a number of records, one of which is still being discussed around the globe. She shattered expectations and made history, clocking an astonishing 21.34 seconds. However, with great speed often comes skepticism.

Flo-Jo’s lightning-fast time has often led to accusations of doping. She had set a bar so high that even decades later, her record has remained unbroken. Fast forward to the present, Shericka Jackson, another outstanding sprinter, now shares the stage. Jackson recently found herself in the spotlight, drawing comparisons to Flo-Jo’s legendary accomplishments. After all, Jackson had 1.2 meters/second less tailwind than Flo-Jo’s 1988 feat. Against rising allegations, the Jamaican stepped up to defend the legend.

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson defends the legend

After securing her world championship victory, Jackson found herself in an interview setting, flanked by fellow athletes Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas. As the conversation flowed, an intriguing question emerged from the interviewer directed at Jackson. He proceeded to ask,

“As all journalists know, women’s world records from the 90s and 80s can’t really be trusted. Don’t you just feel that you are the world record holder?”

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In response, Jackson’s initial reaction was one of laughter, with a hand on her head in a classic facepalm moment. With a sigh and an eye roll, she carried on, addressing the query. Beside her, Sha’Carri Richardson mirrored the incredulity in her expression.

Setting the record straight, she said, “Um, firstly, and I said this last year, I’m not one of those athletes who will cost anybody their world record. If a person has never failed a test, I cannot comment on any world record. It’s the world record.

“When you see that time comes up you will see Championship Record. World Record. So, I’m not the world record holder; I’m the championship record holder.” This interview follows in the wake of Jackson’s own epic race in Budapest, where she retained her world title with an electrifying performance.

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How she almost came close to Flo-Jo

Jackson inches closer to a world record that stood for decades. Her 21.41-second 200m sprint, just 0.07 seconds shy of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s mark, resonates with historical significance. Amid the disappointment of missing the record, Jackson’s gratitude for a personal best shined through. A true contender, she’s ventured where no woman dared before, bringing Flo-Jo’s legacy into her orbit.

Flo-Jo had set the bar so high in ’88 that even decades later, her record of 21.34 seconds remains unbroken. Skeptics arose, questioning her sudden improvement and physique. Despite allegations of doping, she passed every test and denied any wrongdoing. Her husband, Al Joyner, staunchly defended her, attributing her success to rigorous training and mental fortitude.

After her untimely passing in 1998, Prince Alexandre de Merode stated that exhaustive testing found no evidence of banned substances. Flo-Jo’s legacy endures as an emblem of human potential and sportsmanship, as rightly defended by the reigning champion, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson.

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