Jim Thorpe
At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Thorpe won gold in both the grueling pentathlon and decathlon, an unprecedented double that prompted Sweden's King Gustav V to call him 'the greatest athlete in the world.' Overnight he became an international sensation and the most versatile athlete of his era.
A Sac and Fox Son
Born in Indian Territory to parents of Sac and Fox heritage, Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. Under coach Glenn 'Pop' Warner he became a two-time All-American football player and a track-and-field marvel.
Stripped and Restored
In 1913 officials revoked his Olympic medals after learning he had earned small sums playing minor-league baseball, violating strict amateur rules. It took until 1982 for the IOC to restore the medals, and 2022 to name him sole champion again.
Pro Pioneer
Thorpe brought star power to early professional football, anchoring the Canton Bulldogs and serving as the first president of the league that became the NFL. He also played six seasons of Major League Baseball.
Career Timeline
- 1904Enrolls at Carlisle Indian Industrial School
- 1911Stars at Carlisle; earns All-American honors
- 1912Wins Olympic pentathlon and decathlon gold
- 1913Olympic medals stripped over amateurism rules
- 1913Signs to play baseball for New York Giants
- 1915Joins Canton Bulldogs pro football team
- 1920Becomes first president of the APFA (NFL)
- 1928Plays final professional football season
- 1950Voted greatest athlete of half-century by AP
- 1963Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame (charter)
- 1982IOC restores his Olympic gold medals
Biggest Hits
- His Sac and Fox name was Wa-Tho-Huk, meaning 'Bright Path' or the path lightning makes across the sky.
- Thorpe played professional baseball, football, and competed in Olympic track all within a single career, a feat of versatility never matched.
Portrait: Unknown author (U.S. National Archives) · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons