Florence Griffith Joyner quotes

Florence Griffith Joyner was an American track and field athlete renowned for her speed and bold style. Her world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters have stood unmatched for decades. She inspired generations with her dynamic performances and charismatic presence. Here are 17 of her quotes:

A muscle is like a car. If you want it to run well early in the morning, you have to warm it up.

Florence Griffith Joyner

If you want to run as fast as the men, you've got to train like the men.

Florence Griffith Joyner

The main reason I wanted to be successful was to get out of the ghetto. My parents helped direct my path.

Florence Griffith Joyner

When anyone tells me I can't do anything, I'm just not listening anymore.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I don't do drugs. I never have taken any drugs. I don't believe in them.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I like being unconventional.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I love working with kids, talking with them and listening to them. I always encourage kids to reach beyond their dreams. Don't try to be like me. Be better than me.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I've always overworked in the weight room. I love working with weights. I knew they'd give me the strength I needed.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I used to be teased for the way I wore my hair at school. I used to do things like wear a different-colored sock on each leg.

Florence Griffith Joyner

To do justice to a lifelong dream of being a writer, I must give it the intense concentration and focus I gave to track. To do both with excellence is not possible. It is with a sense of sadness and joyous anticipation that I leave track and move on.

Florence Griffith Joyner

Conventional is not for me. I like things that are uniquely Flo. I like being different.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I have been running since I was 7. I was trying to restructure the way my body was made instead of trying to master the way I ran. I would get so frustrated with my starts in practices that I would just cry. When I ran, I wouldn't even try to get out of the blocks, I would just run.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I was always doing something physical. My brothers and I used to have handstand contests. We'd walk around the projects on our hands and see who could get the farthest. I was always playing football with them, basketball or racing in the street.

Florence Griffith Joyner

People want to think that staying in shape costs a lot of money. They couldn't be more wrong. It doesn't cost anything to walk. And it's probably a lot cheaper to go to the corner store and buy vegetables than take a family out for fast food.

Florence Griffith Joyner

I couldn't wait until I grew up. I used to look at my mom's stockings and put them on with her high heels and mess with my hair.

Florence Griffith Joyner