At a time when Native Americans lacked the rights associated with U.S. citizenship, one man rose above the racial prejudice of his day to achieve international recognition for his athletic abilities. He has been described as one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century and is still widely respected throughout the sports world. His journey towards sports stardom was not an easy one, but his determination to succeed still inspires generations of American athletes. James Francis Thorpe was born in Prague, Oklahoma on May 28, 1888 to mixed Irish, French and Indian heritage. Although coming from such a diverse background, consisting of numerous indigenous tribes as well as a strong European extraction, Thorpe was raised Sac and brought up on reservation lands within Oklahoma. His Sac name, Wa-Tho-Tuk, means Bright Path.
In 1907, Thorpe entered the Carlisle Indian School and quickly earned a reputation as a talented athlete. He first came to the attention of the school’s Athletic Director when he spontaneously performed a 5ft, 9 inch high jump during an introductory tour of the campus. Coach Glenn “Pop” Warner was so impressed with the young man that he immediately offered Thorpe a spot on the track and field team. Thorpe was not limited to events like long distance running and the high jump and soon won accolades for his prowess in Lacrosse, Baseball, and Football. Although he was demonstrably gifted in a variety of sports, Thorpe excelled in one event in particular. Playing for the Carlisle football team, Thorpe soon rose to a leadership role and helped his team score unprecedented victories over schools like West Point, the University of Pennsylvania, and even Harvard. During one game against West Point, a young player named Dwight Eisenhower injured his knee in a vain effort to tackle Thorpe.
Although he loved football, and was arguable the best player at the Carlisle Indian School, Thorpe would gain international recognition for his skill on the race track. In 1912, Thorpe qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in both the decathlon and pentathlon and represented both the United States and the Sac Nation in Stockholm, Sweden at the Fifth Olympiad. The two events in with Thorpe participated had a total of fifteen component events. Of that number, Thorpe won eight events and received two gold medals. In addition to the medals, Thorpe was also awarded two prizes from King Gustav V of Sweden and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. While presenting the young American with the prize, the king reportedly told Thorpe that he was “the greatest athlete in the world.”
1912 was a banner year for Jim Thorpe. He had achieved the respect and admiration of his classmates and led the Carlisle Indian School to a series of stunning victories over larger institutions and had gained international recognition for his athletic prowess. Upon his return to the United States, the Sac athlete was treated as a conquering hero and given a ticker-tape parade on Broadway. That tidal wave of adulation, however, would not last long.
Mark C Carnes, Ed, U.S. History. (New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1996).
Kenneth C. Davis, Don’t Know Much About History. (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2003).
Gilbert Legay, Atlas of Indians. (Hauppage: Barron’s, 1995)
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Book, 2000).
