Jim Thorpe

Date of Birth: May 28, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: March 28, 1953

Biography

Jim Thorpe, born Jacobus Franciscus Thorpe, was an American athlete of Sac and Fox Nation descent, who became one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports history. He was born in Indian Territory, near Prague, Oklahoma, and rose to fame for his extraordinary talents in multiple sports, including track and field, football, baseball, and basketball. Thorpe’s athletic prowess was most famously showcased during the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, where he won gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon. However, controversy followed when it was discovered he had played minor league baseball, leading to the revocation of his medals—a decision that was reversed posthumously in 1983. Beyond his Olympic success, Thorpe played professional football and was one of the inaugural inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He also had stints in Major League Baseball and played basketball with a traveling team. Despite his achievements, Thorpe faced significant personal and financial challenges throughout his life, passing away in 1953. His legacy, however, remains as a symbol of athletic excellence and resilience.

5 Interesting Facts about Jim Thorpe

1. Jim Thorpe was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics.

2. He played professional football for several teams, including the Canton Bulldogs, and was a founding member of what would become the NFL.

3. Thorpe’s Olympic gold medals were stripped due to his previous minor league baseball experience but were reinstated in 1983, 30 years after his death.

4. He was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1950.

5. Jim Thorpe also had a brief career in Hollywood, appearing in several films and working as a stunt actor.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jim Thorpe

1. “I have always liked sport and only played or run races for the fun of the thing.”

2. “The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure.”

3. “I thought I’d lived through everything, but that was the hardest day of my life.”

4. “I am no more proud of my career as an athlete than I am of my career as a soldier.”

5. “All I ever wanted was to be a good athlete.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Jim Thorpe earned modest sums compared to today’s professional athletes. His highest net worth is estimated to have been around $30,000, which was significant during his time, though he faced financial difficulties later in life.

Children

Jim Thorpe had eight children from three marriages. He had four children with his first wife, Iva Miller: Jim Jr., Gale, Charlotte, and Grace. With his second wife, Freeda Kirkpatrick, he had four more children: Carl, William, Richard, and John.