Florence griffith joyners death

At the time of her death a month ago, it was reported she had died of a heart seizure - which some former athletes saw as evidence that she had suffered physical damage from steroid abuse. Reporter Steve Futterman: "All the report talks about is her condition at time of death" Doctor Richard Fukumoto, who serves as chief forensic pathologist of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's Department, found:"Florence Griffith Joyner died as a result of positional asphyxia, secondary to an epileptic seizure.

Fit while sleeping None of the doctors or officials participating in the news conference to announce the autopsy results would discuss Griffith Joyner's previous medical history. Her family have rejected rumours about her death Dr Fukumoto said Griffith Joyner was apparently sleeping face down when the seizure occurred. Small amounts of non-prescription drugs were also found in Griffith Joyner's body.

They included the pain reliever acetaminophen, known by the brand names Tylenol and Paracetamol among others. Flo Jo even designed new uniforms for the Indiana Pacers, tried her hand at acting, and more. Even though Flo Jo accomplished a lot during a short 38 years, she could have done that much more if she hadn't died so tragically early.

Her work and legacy live on without her, but if she'd lived, it stands to reason that she would have continued to be an active role model for young women and been a prominent public health figure. Flo Jo's death wasn't just sudden, it was the type of senseless death that could leave many wondering about the fragility of life. Flo Jo wasn't just physically fit, she was one of the world's most elite athletes.

One bulging blood vessel, however, and she was dead. This is precisely why Flo Jo's cause of death reignited allegations that had followed the Olympic champion for her entire career. At her physical peak in the late '80s, some claimed that Flo Jo's physique and skills came from performance-enhancing drugs. Joyner began running at age 7, and her gift for speed soon became apparent.

She later competed for Jordan High School, where she served as the anchor on the relay team, then went on to race at the college level. She attended California State University at Northridge and ran for their track team under coach Bob Kersee, who continued to coach her for several years. She left school for financial reasons, but in , Joyner enrolled at the University of California Los Angeles, where Kersee had recently accepted a position as an assistant track coach.

She quickly earned a reputation as a track star. She became an NCAA champion in with a victory in the meter event.

Florence griffith joyners death

The following year, she took the top spot in the meter event. She graduated in with a degree in psychology. There, she won a silver medal for the meter run and became known for her speed, form-fitting bodysuits, and brightly painted 6-inch fingernails. Following the Olympic Games, Joyner entered semi-retirement, but she returned to track in the leadup to the Olympics and recommitted to training.

During this time, Flo Jo trained with both Kersee and her husband, Al. At the U. Shortly afterward, she dropped Kersee and selected her husband to be her full-time coach. At the Summer Olympics, held in Seoul, South Korea, she took home gold medals in the 4-by meter relay and the and meter runs as well as a silver medal in the 4-by meter relay.

She also set a world record for the meter run with a time of Joyner also won the Sullivan Award for best amateur athlete. Griffith Joyner set women's and metre world records in Famous fingernails Known for her self-designed running uniforms and six-inch painted fingernails, she also won a Olympic silver medal in the heptathlon and bronze medal in the long jump.

Florence Griffith Joyner in action Griffith Joyner first captured the headlines with an amazing series of runs in the US Olympic trials in and became the first woman to run the m in At Seoul she won the m in a wind-assisted Denied taking drugs She retired immediately after the Games, amid a swirl of rumours about her taking performance-enhancing substances.