Week 10- Jim Thorpe

I wanted to dedicate one of my blogs for this week to the person I gave my presentation on… Jim Thorpe. Even though only three people in the class knew who he was before I presented on him, I wasn’t surprised. It’s really unfortunate that Jim Thorpe’s story hasn’t been told as much as it deserves. When you think about the greatest athletes ever, the names Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Babe Ruth all come to mind. One name that deserves to be on that list is Jim Thorpe.
Jim was without a doubt an incredible naturally gifted athlete. He was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma where he was known as Wa-Tho-Huk. This translated to “Bright Path,” which is exactly the path Jim Thorpe was on. At age 16, he attended Carlisle Indian School and began his athletic career. He was first team All American and won the national championship. At age 24 he won a gold medal in the Belgium Olympics in the decathlon and pentathlon. After the Olympics he played professional football and baseball. He was named the first president of the American Professional Football Association. As a result, we can credit the National Football League to Jim Thorpe.
1912 Olympic silver medalist Abel Kiviat on Thorpe
"He was the greatest athlete who ever lived.... What he had was natural ability. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. All he had to see is someone doin' something and he tried it ... and he'd do it better."
It’s hard to summarize all Jim Thorpe in a single blog post but I recommended you do some more outside for yourself. Thorpe was not only an amazing athlete, but also a prominent figure for changing the negative misrepresentation of Native Americans through athletics. Through thick and thin, Thorpe prided himself in being the best he can be. He is in the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame, along with The Track and Field Hall of Fame. He was also ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century. Today the Jim Thorpe Association awards scholarships and honors to high school and collegiate athletes focusing on academics and leadership.