Serena Williams' one-legged catsuit at the Australian Open is actually a historical shoutout
Serena Williams paid tribute to one of her heroes during her first match of the Australian Open on Monday.
Facing off against Laura Siegemund, the former world number one took to the court wearing an asymmetrical black, pink and red Nike catsuit that was inspired by sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, whose 1988 Olympic trial records for the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint still stand today.
As well as being known for her history-making athletic ability, Flo-Jo was also well-known for the brightly-colored and memorable outfits she'd wear (and design herself) while tearing around the track — Beyoncé recreated the iconic look below for Halloween in 2018.
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Alongside setting those two world records in 1988, Griffith Joyner also won three gold medals for the 100-metre, 200-metre, and 4x100-metre events. When asked about her style in a 1992 interview, Griffith Joyner said that fashion had been a part of her life since she was a young child.
"Track and field is a beautiful sport, and I just wanted to bring in my personality and the clothes that I wear off the track, onto the track, just to be myself" Griffith Joyner said.
"I was inspired by Flo-Jo, who was a wonderful track athlete," said Williams in her post-match interview on Monday, before adding that she grew up watching Griffith Joyner run. "Watching her fashion, just always changing, her outfits were always amazing."
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The Flo-Jo-inspired outfit clearly worked for Williams, too — she ended up breezing through to the second round after beating her opponent in straight sets.
