TOP FIVE AMERICAN FEMALE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF ALL TIME FT FLORENCE GRIFFITH-JOYNER, JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE

The American track and field scene has produced many stellar athletes over the years, one of them being world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner. Stars from the nation have brought in troves of medals from various global competitions, including marquee events like the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

As American athletes continue to excel at the international stage today, they will now head to the Paris Olympics in hopes of adding to Team USA's medal tally. As we rapidly approach the Games this summer, here is a look back at the top five female American track and field stars over the years.

#5. Evelyn Ashford

Born in 1957, Evelyn Ashford was a specialist of the 60m and 100m sprints. In 1982, while running at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York City, Ashford sealed her place amongst the greats when she clocked a 6.54 in the 60 yard dash. In doing so, the sprinter set a new world record, one that stands till date.

In the 100m distance, Evelyn Ashford is the 1984 Olympic champion and the 1986 Goodwill Games champion. She broke the 11-second barrier over 30 times over the course of a long and decorated career.

#4. Gail Devers

As a 60m hurdler, Gail Devers was the 2003 World Indoor Champion, and 2004 World Indoor Championships silver-medalists. In the 100m hurdles, Devers won five World Championships medals, three of which were gold.

As a sprinter, the American was the World Indoor Champion for the 60m dash in 1993, 1997, as well as 2004. At the 1992 Olympics, the athlete won her first Olympic gold medal running the 100m, and four years later became only the second woman in history to defend a 100m Olympic title.

#3. Allyson Felix

Having won a combined total of 31 World Championships and Olympic medals, Allyson Felix is statistically the most decorated track and field athlete ever. She is also the most successful Olympic runner, with 11 medals to her name across five editions from 2004-2020.

The 38-year-old specialized in the 200m early in her career, before later transitioning to the 400m sprint. In the shorter distance, Felix is the 2008 Olympic champion, two-time Olympic silver-medalist, and three-time World Champion. Meanwhile, in the 400m, she is a two-time Olympic medalist, and the 2015 World Champion.

#2. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is considered to be one of the greatest athletes of all time in both the heptathlon as well as the long jump. As a heptathlete, she medaled at three consecutive Olympic Games, winning a gold in 1988 and 1992, and finishing with a silver in 1994. She was the 1987 and 1993 heptathlon World Champion, and won four consecutive Goodwill Games between 1986 and 1998.

As a long jump athlete, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was crowned the Olympic Champion in 1988, and took a bronze in the event in 1992 and 1996. She won her sole world title in the event at the 1987 Rome World Championships.

Joyner-Kersee was the sister-in-law of the legendary Florence Griffith-Joyner.

#1. Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence Griffith-Joyner is undoubtedly one of the best sprinters of all time. Introduced to the world of track and field when she was in elementary school, the American showed promise from a young age.

Florence Griffith-Joyner qualified for her first Olympics in 1980, but was unable to attend due to the American boycott. Four years later, she ran the 200m at the Los Angeles Games, walking away with a silver.

At the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 1988 Olympics, Florence Griffith-Joyner set a world record in the 100m, clocking a time of 10.49 seconds. While the time is believed to be wind assisted, it is still listed as a world record. She went on to win the 100m and 200m gold at the Olympics that year, clocking a world record of 21.34 seconds in the latter.

2024-07-05T04:18:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd