Jim Thorpe - Bio, Age, Chinese Zodiac Sign & Timeline

Born	May 22, 1887
Died	February 28, 1953 (age 65)
Birthplace	Near Prague, Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, United States
Zodiac Sign	Gemini - (see also Jim Thorpe's horoscope and birth chart)
Chinese Zodiac	Pig
Known For	Winning gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics; his career in professional baseball and football.

Intro

Jim Thorpe was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist, widely regarded as one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports history. Excelling in track and field, football, and baseball, Thorpe was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States.

Early Life & Background

Jim Thorpe was born into the Sac and Fox Nation in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. His Native American name was Wa-Tho-Huk, meaning 'Bright Path.' Raised in a time of cultural discrimination against Native Americans, Thorpe's early life was marked by hardship and a strong connection to his heritage.

Career Highlights

• Won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics
• Played professional baseball with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves
• Played professional football, became a founding member and first president of the American Professional Football Association (later the NFL)
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Trivia

• Thorpe's Olympic medals were stripped after it was discovered he'd played semi-professional baseball, violating amateurism rules; they were restored posthumously in 1983.
• He is a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
• In 1950, the Associated Press named him the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century.

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Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe