Around this time in 1888, American Athlete Jim Thorpe was born

Around this time in 1888, American athlete Jim Thorpe was born near Prague, Oklahoma, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation. Competing in the 1912 Olympics, he was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. Thorpe was a multi-talented athlete – among other sports he was skilled in track and field, baseball, and football. His gold medals at the Olympics were in pentathlon and decathlon.⁠
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Did you know? While presenting him his Olympic Gold Medals, King Gustav V of Sweden congratulated Thorpe, saying: “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.” Thorpe reportedly replied, “Thanks, king.”⁠
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Aside from his well-known athletic accomplishments, Thorpe was also the winner of the 1912 intercollegiate ballroom dancing championship! 💃🕺⁠
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Jim Thorpe, 1912⁠
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