Eulogy

By Gail Devers

When you think of FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER, you think of beauty, style, long fingernails and speed. But she was so much more. I first met Florence in 1984 and was captivated not only by her beauty but also by the beauty of her grace and the patience of her character. In 1996 at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Florence came to my room before the 100-m final to give me words of encouragement. "All right, Gail," she said, "go make history." On and off the track, Florence gave gold-medal performances. She inspired and motivated many people through her speech and words. How many people's lives, when we look at them, make us stand back in awe? In 38 years Florence accomplished what would take others three lifetimes to do. She was a wife, a mother, an actress and a poet; she ran, she taught, she loved. Although she retired from track and field in 1989, she left a lasting mark. She raised the standard of competition and at the same time brought femininity to our sport. She showed by example that when you look great, you feel great--and when you feel great, you perform great. Florence brought to track a unique flair, style and grace, and added to them gold medals and world records. She was unquestionably the fastest woman in the world.

--Gail Devers, three-time Olympic gold medalist