Nixon Proclaims Jim Thorpe the Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century

Name: Nixon Proclaims Jim Thorpe the Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century
Start: 1887-10-20
Location: Unspecified

President Nixon's Historic Proclamation

Nixon and the Legacy of Jim Thorpe

On October 9, 1973, President Richard Nixon publicly proclaimed that Jim Thorpe was the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century. This declaration came during a special ceremony which honored the iconic Native American athlete who excelled in multiple sports, including football, baseball, and track and field.

The Impact of the Proclamation

Nixon's proclamation was a significant moment as it brought renewed attention to Thorpe's achievements. It also highlighted the importance of recognizing contributions made by athletes from marginalized communities. Jim Thorpe's legacy as a versatile sportsperson inspired future generations, and Nixon's statement helped ensure that his name continued to be associated with excellence in sports.

Jim Thorpe: A Sporting Legend

Jim Thorpe's Early Life and Career

Born on May 28, 1887, in Princeton, New Jersey, Jim Thorpe was of Sac and Fox Nation descent. His natural athletic abilities shone through from a young age, and he went on to win two Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. His prowess across different sporting disciplines set him apart as a rare talent in the sports world.

Jim Thorpe's Athletic Achievements

Thorpe's career spanned various sports, and he played for the Haskell Indian Nations University football team before joining professional leagues in **baseball and football**. His dominance in football led him to play for multiple teams in the early NFL, and he was even named the first president of the American Professional Football Association (now known as the NFL). Thorpe's extraordinary contributions helped to elevate the status of American sports.

Fun Fact

Did You Know? Jim Thorpe's Gold Medals

Interesting enough, Jim Thorpe's Olympic gold medals were stripped due to his brief participation in professional baseball. However, in 1983, more than 70 years later, the IOC recognized his achievements by restoring the medals, affirming his status as one of the greatest Olympians.