Jim Thorpe American athlete, track and field athlete Date of Birth: 28.05.1888 Country: USA

1. Jim Thorpe: A Paragon of Athleticism and Resilience
2. Olympic Glory and Controversies
3. Professional Career and Later Life
4. Restoration and Recognition

Jim Thorpe: A Paragon of Athleticism and Resilience

James Francis Thorpe (c. 1887-1953), commonly known as Jim Thorpe, was an American multi-talented athlete renowned for his exceptional abilities in various sports. Born of a Sac and Fox Native American father and a French-Potawatomi mother, Thorpe faced hurdles from an early age. Forced to leave school after his father's demise, he eventually returned and showcased his sheer athletic prowess at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.

Olympic Glory and Controversies

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Thorpe achieved legendary status by winning gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon. His remarkable performance made him an instant icon. However, his triumphs were overshadowed by a controversy that unfolded after the Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Thorpe of his medals upon discovering that he had played semi-professional baseball, violating the amateur status required of Olympic athletes. This decision sparked outrage and allegations of racial discrimination as Thorpe was of Native American descent.

Professional Career and Later Life

Despite the controversy, Thorpe continued his athletic career professionally. He excelled as an outfielder for various baseball teams, including the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. In American football, he led the Canton Bulldogs to the first unofficial national championship in 1916 and served as the first president of what would become the National Football League.

After retiring from professional sports at the age of 41, Thorpe faced financial struggles and health issues. He passed away in 1953 from heart ailments. His body was initially interred in Shawnee, Oklahoma, but was later relocated to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, which was subsequently renamed Jim Thorpe in his honor.

Restoration and Recognition

In 1983, the IOC reinstated Thorpe's Olympic medals, acknowledging that the disqualification had exceeded the applicable time limit. Thorpe was posthumously restored to his rightful place as an Olympic champion.

Jim Thorpe's legacy as an athletic icon remains undisputed. He was voted the greatest athlete of the 20th century by ABC Sports and was the subject of the 1951 film "Jim Thorpe: The All-American." His accomplishments have been commemorated through a postage stamp and a commemorative one-dollar coin featuring his likeness.