Florence Griffith Joyner's fans will have the opportunity to grieve and say good-bye to the world's fastest woman sprinter in a public viewing to be held in Orange County on Friday.
It will be an occasion of tears rather than cheers for Griffith Joyner, the star of the 1988 Olympics, who died Monday at age 38 of undetermined causes at her home in Mission Viejo.A public viewing was scheduled for Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Angelus Funeral Home on Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles, USA Track & Field, the sport's national governing body, announced Wednesday.
The funeral was planned for Saturday morning in the Orange County community of Lake Forest at Saddleback Valley Community Church. The church can accommodate about 3,200 people, and that service is also open to the public.
The cause of her death remained under investigation, coroner's officials said Wednesday.
The gold medalist and record holder in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, felt "a little tired" after appearing at a gymnastics meet and visiting with her mother in Santa Barbara on Sunday, said former coach Bob Kersee.
But there were "no signs whatsoever that Florence was ill," Kersee said Tuesday. Coroner's tests were continuing, and results might take weeks, said Orange County sheriff's Lt. Hector Rivera.
Late Tuesday, hundreds of well-wishers and friends gathered in Los Angeles' Leimert Park, not far from where Griffith Joyner grew up, to say prayers, sing songs and remember her contributions to the community.
She won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 400-meter relay at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and at her death was still the fastest woman sprinter ever.