Jim Thorpe’s career highlights
Long before Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Michael Jordan, there was an original “super athlete” named Jim Thorpe. Fans didn’t stop at what Jim Thorpe could do, they wondered if there was anything this sports icon couldn’t do! He would watch a sport he had never attempted before, study his techniques, and then hone them to a world class level.
In his prime, Thorpe could run faster and jump higher than all of his competitors. He was an Olympic gold medalist in track and field. He won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. He played professional soccer and major league baseball. Not only that, Jim was a tremendous basketball player and one of the best lacrosse players ever. When you look at the vast scope of Thorpe’s accomplishments, there has never been another athlete like him.
Timeline Biography:
- Born: May 28, 1888
- Age 10: Twin brother Charlie dies of pneumonia
- Age 12: Mother died of a blood disorder. Father dies of the same disease three years later
- Age 15: Jim studied agriculture and tailoring at Carlisle Indian School (the equivalent of high school and college combined). Letters in 11 sports
- Age 19: Promoted to varsity by coach Pop Warner
- He leads Carlisle to an 11-1 record and earns All American honors. He kicked a 50-yard field goal to earn Harvard’s No. 1 seed.
- Age 24: Wins Olympic gold medals in decathlon and pentathlon
- 1915 – Plays professional football for the Canton Bulldogs.
- 1920 – Appointed president of the NFL
- 1928 – Retired New York Giant Ace
Interesting facts about Jim that you may not know
- In the span of 7 years, Jim Thorpe lost his entire family to illness and was completely alone by the age of 15. After his entire family died, Jim learned to channel his physical and mental energy to block out pain. This inner strength is what allowed him to survive the unbearable punishment of professional sports.
- In Thorpe’s 1912 meeting with the Army, defensive specialist Dwight D. Eisenhower was brought into play to try to slow Thorpe down. The future President of the United States broke his knee trying to bring down Thorpe.
- Jim had a special grace about him. In 1912 he won the varsity championship in ballroom dancing.
- Jim Thorpe was considered a world-class athlete in baseball, basketball, discus, soccer, hammer throw, handball, high jump, hurdles, ice hockey, lacrosse, long jump, mile run, pole vault , rowing, shot put, speed skating, sprinting. and tennis.