Jim Thorpe

 

Graphite, by Hannah Gray

            During the 1912 Olympics Games, King Gustav V of Sweden told Jim Thorpe, "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world." From his astounding Olympic records in both the pentathlon and the decathlon to his incredible seasons as a baseball and football player, Jim Thorpe is still recognized today as one of the greatest athletes the word has ever seen.

            In 1887, Jim Thorpe was born in a one-room cabin in Oklahoma to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer and Mary James, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the noted warrior and great chief Black Hawk. He was born a twin, but his brother died at the age of nine. Wa-Tho-Huk, his Indian name, meant "Bright Path." In a few years, the world would see just how bright his path would become.

            Growing up, Thorpe attended the Carlisle Industrial Indian School in Pennsylvania. Carlisle was the first off-reservation boarding school, and soon became a model for Indian boarding schools throughout the country. The school was part of a 19th century movement by the US government to assimilate Native American children into the majority culture. Though it provided practical training in multiple trades and work opportunities, it also forced American Indian children to be stripped of their cultural identity and tribal heritage. It was here that Jim Thorpe began his shining athletic career. He ran track and played football, coached by football legend Glenn "Pop" Warner. In 1908, Thorpe was selected as a third-team All-American, and by 1909 he made first team. 

            At 24 years old, Jim Thorpe sailed to Stockholm, Sweden as a part of the American Olympic team for the 1912 Games. Thorpe continued to train while aboard the ship, and his efforts were soon to be rewarded. He crushed his competition by landslides in both the pentathlon and the decathlon, setting records that would take decades to break. King Gustav V presented Thorpe with his gold medals and the legendary line, "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world."

            A dark cloud passed over Jim Thorpe's life in 1913 when his renowned Olympic wins were questioned. The Olympics Committee found out that Thorpe has played two semi-professional seasons of baseball, and they believed this violated rules about Olympians receiving monetary compensation for participating in professional athletics. Thorpe insisted that he played for the love of the game and not for money; however, it was ultimately decided that his baseball experience broke the amateurism rules. Jim Thorpe's name was removed from record books, and his gold medals were taken away.

            Despite this crushing blow, Thorpe moved on with his athletic career and signed to play baseball for the New York Giants. He played outfield for three seasons before playing with the Cincinnati Reds in 1917. After 77 games with the Reds, he returned to the Giants for another 26 games. Thorpe ended his major league baseball career in 1919 after playing with the Boston Braves.

            Jim Thorpe was also highly involved in professional football.  From 1915 to 1920, he played for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs, and in 1921 for the Cleveland Indiana Indians. In the next few years, he organized, coached, and played with the Oorang Indians, a professional football team with Native American members. He was vital to the formation of the American Professional Football Association (what is known today as the NFL) and became president of the group.  Throughout his professional football career, he played with six teams and ended in 1929 after playing with the Chicago Cardinals.

            After his athletic career was over, the Great Depression hit and Thorpe struggled to support his family. He found jobs as an extra in movies, worked as the superintendent of recreation in the Chicago Park System, spent some time public speaking and lecturing, and at one point led an all-Indian music group called "The Jim Thorpe Show." He was always outspoken with Native American affairs and issues. Though Thorpe was experiencing difficult times, his sports legacy stayed with him, and in 1950 the Associated Press honored Jim Thorpe as "the greatest American football player" and the "greatest overall male athlete."

            Jim Thorpe passed away due to a heart attack on March 28, 1953. In remembrance of his life, the New York Times printed a front-page story to honor him. The article states that Thorpe "was a magnificent performer. He had all the strength, speed and coordination of the finest players, plus an incredible stamina. The tragedy of the loss of his Stockholm medals because of thoughtless and unimportant professionalism darkened much of his career and should have been rectified long ago. His memory should be kept for what it deserves--that of the greatest all-round athlete of our time." In 1982, Jim Thorpe's Olympic Medals were finally returned to him posthumously. Most importantly to his family, his name was also returned to the record books. Today, Thorpe's legacy continues to stand the test of time. He was an incredible individual who was proud of his American Indian identity and whose monumental athletic accomplishments will never be forgotten. This is Jim Thorpe. 



Additional information on the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. 
Jim Thorpe's athletic statistics.