Jim Thorpe

All-around athlete and Olympian, Jim Thorpe competed in 15 events during the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He became the first Native American to earn an Olympic gold medal when he took first place in both the pentathlon and decathlon. Thorpe also made a solid showing in the other 13 events. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Thorpe of his medals after learning he had played minor-league baseball, a violation of the amateurism rule.

Thorpe would go on to play professional football and basketball proving once again that his abilities stretch from field to court and beyond.

In October 1982, the IOC added James Thorpe’s name to the list of 1912 crowned Olympic champions and delivered two replica medals to his family. However, the IOC noted that the official report of the games would not be modified.