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“Remind Me of My Late Wife”: Florence Griffith Joyner’s Husband Opened Up on Sha’Carri Richardson and Elaine Thompson-Herah Nearing American Legend’s Record in 2021

Published 08/31/2023, 6:05 AM EDT

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‘Vogue’ had labeled Sha’Carri Richardson as “the Flo-Jo of our time.” That is something with which Florence Griffith Joyner’s husband, Al Joyner, agreed. In fact, Richardson and Elaine Thompson-Herah remind him of his late wife. While the 2023 World Athletics Championship has already got the crowds pumped beyond limits, these comparisons have been getting more fuel; especially after an old interview resurfaced.

Amidst the exponentially increasing hype of track and field races, Al Joyner’s words from two years back have returned to prominence. What remarkable confessions did he make?

Sha’Carri Richardson and Elaine Thompson may eclipse Flo-Jo: Al Joyner

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Flo-Jo’s feats in her relatively small career are still giving a hard time to every sprinter in the world. Loads of extremely fast women have burned through their careers like shooting stars, just to break her record. However, her records stand strong, like an indomitable iron fortress. But the husband of the ‘fastest woman ever’ was of the opinion that his late wife’s dominance would soon come to an end.

In fact, he said that he believed Sha’Carri Richardson or Elaine Thompson-Herah would be the ones to emerge on the top.

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Al Joyner said in a 2021 NBC16 interview, “When I see Richardson and Elaine Thompson, they remind me of my late wife.” Joyner is one of the biggest supporters of the new age athletes, irrespective of their nationality. Sha’Carri Richardson flamboyantly won the 100m dash at Budapest, and Elaine Thompson is known as the fastest woman alive.

via Imago

Al Joyner also noted, “I remember she once told me, ‘I never want anybody to be like me. I want them to make bigger footsteps than me.'” While sprinters are already acting in the same direction, they still can’t help but follow Flo-Jo’s path.

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The second realm of Flo-Jo’s supremacy

Flo-Jo always made a statement on the racetrack whenever she participated. While her speed made all eyes turn to her, it was her iconic style that made their gaze linger. Sha’Carri Richardson, Elaine Thompson, and even Noah Lyles have taken inspiration from the timeless style icon. The new-age athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson have completely absorbed her style, along with her ambition to be the fastest. 

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While all athletes universally conserve their energy for the final rounds of all races, Flo-Jo couldn’t care less about it. Her 100m record of 10.49 seconds happened at the quarter-final races to qualify for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Sha’Carri Richardson and Elaine Thompson have big shoes to fill, but Al Joyner believes that they are ready. It would be a treat to watch the two athletes go at each other at the Diamond League 2023.

WATCH STORY – Witness the Genesis of the Legend of Noah Lyles: The Finish You Know, the Start You Don’t

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Written by:

Ankit Singh

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Ankit Singh is a pro writer for US Sports at Essentially Sports. This surfing enthusiast has kept his watchful eye on all things Kelly Slater. With his prior experience as a senior writer for popular blogs in the country, Ankit brings his attention to detail to the nuances of every turn, snap, 360, and alley-oop on the surfboard.
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Edited by:

Brandon Gabriel