Florence Griffith Joyner stretching against cliffs in a photograph by portrait photographer, Steve LandisBeauty portrait of Florence Griffith Joyner by celebrity photographer Steve Landis
  Florence Griffith—Joyner   Florence Griffith—Joyner  
  El Matador Beach,   El Matador Beach,  
  Malibu, CA   1988   Malibu, CA   1988  
 

Photographed exactly one month before winning her first gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea Flo—Jo posed for this cover story for British weekly RIVA.  Shot near Malibu, August 28, 1988, Steve Landis, remembers being extremely impressed by Joyner and her husband and coach 1984 Olympic triple—jump gold medallist Al Joyner.  She had a very humble way about her.  We took video of the shoot and each other; Al and I had the exact same Sony camcorder.  Flo—Jo won three gold medals in Seoul.  Griffith Joyner still holds world records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. She set the 100 meter mark of 10.49 seconds at the quarterfinals of the 1988 Olympic trials at Indianapolis. Since then, no one has even broken 10.60.

Florence Griffith Joyner died a week short of the 10 year anniversary of winning her Olympic gold, of a heart seizure on Sept. 21, 1998 in California.  She was 38 years old.  When I heard the news, I was shocked.  It was a very sad day.

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About the photographer . .
Steve Landis shoots fashion and beauty imagery. New York based, Steve Landis specializes in celebrity portraits, covers and editorial pages for leading international magazines. Creating simple but powerful images are trademarks of Landis' work.

  
 

All photographs and other content contained herein is owned by and Copyright 1975-2004 by Steve Landis.This web page Copyright 2004 by Steve Landis.  All other rights are reserved.

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