Jim Thorpe "Greatest Athlete In The World"

Legend has it that when Jim was awarded the gold medal, the king of Sweden said, "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world."

He lost his gold medals in 1913 when it was discovered that he had played baseball for money before the Olympics. His medals were later reinstated in 1982.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

His best season as a baseball player was his last when he had a .327 batting average.

He was voted the greatest American football player of the first half of the 20th century.

There is a 1951 movie about him called Jim Thorpe-All American. Movie star Burt Lancaster played the lead role.

He once kicked a wind-assisted punt of 95 yards.

Jim Thorpe also became the first president of the American Professional Football Association which later became the National Football League (NFL).

Many of his records — feats of strength, speed and cunning — would align Thorpe with world-class athletes of today. That’s a massive accomplishment considering improvements in conditioning and equipment of modern sportsmen.

Jim Thorpe died of a heart attack in 1953.

After Thorpe’s death in 1953 his wife Patricia lobbied officials in Oklahoma, Jim’s home state, to erect a memorial in his honor. When they refused, an angry Patricia decided she would make sure that Jim was honored elsewhere. She heard that the Pennsylvania towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were looking for ways to attract businesses and tourists, and got an idea. She struck a deal with town officials, and the two towns merged, renamed the new town after Thorpe, purchased his remains, and built a monument to him that includes his tomb two statues of him, and plaques telling his life story. (he rests in soil from his native Oklahoma and the Swedish stadium where he won his Olympic medals),

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