Jim Thorpe was an Olympic gold medalist and well-known American athlete.
Jim Thorpe, born in 1888 in Oklahoma to the Sac and Fox Native American tribe, is remembered as one of history’s greatest athletes.
Jim Thorpe was the first Native American to win a gold medal.
Raised on a farm, Thorpe developed his athletic prowess from a young age, mastering various outdoor activities.
After his twin brother’s tragic death, he attended a boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas where he excelled in track events.
Thorpe’s natural talent shone through at the Carlisle Indian School, where he astounded the school’s famous coach, Pop Warner, by setting a new high jump record.
Despite being deemed too small, Thorpe became a star in football, earning All-American in 1911 and 1912 and leading his team to a national championship.
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In the 1912 Olympics, he won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon. Thorpe later played professional baseball, football and basketball.
He was the first president of the American Professional Football Association, which later became the National Football League (NFL).
Though he passed away in 1953, Thorpe’s legacy continues to inspire.
I have picked best quotes from Jim Thorpe for you.
Best Jim Thorpe Quotes
I never was content unless I was trying my skill…or testing my endurance. ~ Jim Thorpe.
The Yankees, you see, they’re a money team, they’re the class of baseball. You don’t ever bet against that. ~ Jim Thorpe.
Track and field, because it was something I could do by myself, one-on-one, me against everybody else. ~ Jim Thorpe.
They just keep coming. But that’s what keeps me going. ~ Jim Thorpe.
I have always liked sport and only played or run races for the fun of the thing. ~ Jim Thorpe.
I am no more proud of my career as an athlete than I am of the fact that I am a direct descendant of that noble warrior [Chief Black Hawk]. ~ Jim Thorpe.
I give ’em the hip, then I take it away. ~ Jim Thorpe.
Quotes about Jim Thorpe
He was the greatest athlete who ever lived…. What he had was natural ability. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. All he had to see is someone doin’ something and he tried it … and he’d do it better. ~ (Abel Kiviat) – 1912 Olympic silver medalist.
You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world. I would consider it an honor to shake your hand. ~ King Gustav V.
Jim was very proud of the great things he’d done. A very proud man….Very late one night Jim came in and woke me up. … He was crying, and tears were rolling down his cheeks. You know, Chief,’ he said, the King of Sweden gave me those trophies, he gave them to me. But they took them away from me. They’re mine, Chief; I won them fair and square.’ It broke his heart and he never really recovered. ~ Chief Meyers.
So these were the 10 top quotes about Jim Thorpe.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Louise Erdrich quotes and Joy Harjo quotes.
Short Biography of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe, an American sports legend from Oklahoma, excelled in various sports like baseball, football, and track and field.
He shone at the 1912 Olympics, snagging two gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
| Full Name | Jim Thorpe |
| Position | Running Back |
| Height / Weight | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) / 202 lb (92 kg) |
| Born / Died | May 22 or 28, 1887, Near Prague, Indian Territory – March 28, 1953, Lomita, California, U.S. |
| College | Carlisle (1907–1908, 1911–1912) |
| Career as a Player | Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, Tampa Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals |
| Career as a Coach | Indiana (Assistant head coach), Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Tampa Cardinals |
| Career Highlights | First-team All-Pro (1923), NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, 2× Consensus All-American (1911, 1912) |
| Baseball Career | Outfielder, Batted: Right, Threw: Right, Teams: New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Braves |
| MLB Statistics | Batting average .252, Home runs 7, Runs batted in 82, Hits 176 |
| NFL Statistics | Head coaching record: 14–25–2 |
| Olympic Medal Record | Gold medal – 1912 Stockholm Decathlon, Gold medal – 1912 Stockholm Pentathlon |
Thorpe is known as one of the top athletes ever and was a strong advocate for Native American rights in sports.
Quick Facts about Jim Thorpe
- Jim Thorpe was born on May 28, 1888, in Prague, Oklahoma.
- He was part of the Sac and Fox Native American tribe and had a twin brother, Charlie.
- Thorpe’s native name, Wa-Tho-Huk, means “Bright Path.”
- He excelled in outdoor activities from a young age despite not being very tall.
- Jim attended various Indian boarding schools but struggled academically and preferred sports.
- After his brother’s death, he attended Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
- At Carlisle, Thorpe broke the school’s high jump record in his work clothes, impressing everyone.
- He became a star in track and field, winning numerous events at college meets.
- Despite initial doubts, Thorpe became a football sensation, playing multiple positions and earning All-American honors.
- In the 1912 Olympics, he won gold in both the pentathlon and decathlon by large margins.
- Thorpe played professional baseball, football, and even basketball, excelling in each.
- He was the first president of what would become the NFL.
- Thorpe passed away from a heart attack on March 28, 1953.
- He lost his Olympic medals in 1913 due to a technicality but they were reinstated in 1982.
- Thorpe was honored in film, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and remembered as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
Top Questions about Jim Thorpe (FAQs)
A: Jim Thorpe is best known for being a track and field athlete and the first Native American to win Olympic gold medals for the U.S. He won in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games.
A: His medals were stripped by the International Olympic Committee because he had played minor-league baseball in 1909-1910, which violated the amateurism rules of the time.
A: King Gustav V of Sweden called Jim Thorpe the greatest athlete in the world when he congratulated him at the Olympics.
A: Jim Thorpe could run the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds, the 220 in 21.8 seconds, the 440 in 51.8 seconds, the 880 in 1:57, the mile in 4:35, the 120-yard high hurdles in 15 seconds, and the 220-yard low hurdles in 24 seconds.
A: Yes, Jim Thorpe was a Native American, primarily of Sac and Fox descent, but he also had Potawatomi, Menominee, Kickapoo, Irish, and French ancestry.
A: Jim Thorpe is considered a hero for his exceptional athleticism and versatility in sports, overcoming adversity to win two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics, and his contributions as an actor and humanitarian.
A: Jim Thorpe was 1.85 meters tall and weighed 92 kilograms.
