December 21 Birthdays

1958
Tamara Vladimirovna Bykova, Soviet Union, high jump. Bykova first competed on the world stage at the 1980 (Moscow) Olympics, where she was ninth in the women's high jump, clearing 1.88m. At the 1983 (Helsinki) world championships Bykova jumped 2.01m, earning the gold medal. Bykova was also a silver medalist in the high jump at the 1987 (Rome) World Championships (2.04m) and a bronze medalist at the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games (1.99m). During her career she set three world records in the women's high jump, 2.03m (on 21 August 1983), 2.04m (on 25 August 1983), and 2.05m (on 22 June 1984). In 1990 she was suspended for the use of ephedrine, a performance-enhancing drug.

1959
Florence ("Flo-Jo") Griffith-Joyner, United States, sprinter. Florence Delorez Griffith won a silver medal at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games, running 22.04 in the 200m behind Valerie Brisco-Hooks (21.81) of the United States. After marrying Al Joyner in 1987, Griffith-Joyner returned to the Olympics in 1988 (Seoul) where she won gold medals in the 100m (10.54) and 200m (21.34). Her time in the 200m final established a new world record. "Flo-Jo's" best 100m time of 10.49 is also a world record. Florence Griffith-Joyner died suddenly at the age of 38 on 21 September 1998.

1976
Mirela Manjani, Greece, javelin throw. Manjani was born in Albania but became a Greek citizen in 1997, and her greatest accomplishments in athletics were when she represented Greece. Among these were a gold medal in the women's javelin throw (67.09m) at the 1999 (Seville) World Championships, a silver medal in the javelin (67.51m) at the 2000 (Sydney) Olympics, a gold medal in the javelin (66.52m) at the 2003 (Paris) World Championships, and a bronze medal in the javelin (64.29m) at the 2004 (Athens) Olympics.

1980
John Moffitt, United States, long jump. Moffitt's career year was 2004, when he won the men's long jump at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, and went on to leap 8.47m for the silver medal at the (Athens) Olympic Games--12cm short of the winning 8.59m jump of Mike Powell of the United States.