Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe was an
American athlete. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern
sports, he won
Olympic gold medals in the
pentathlon and
decathlon, played
American football collegiately and professionally, and also played professional
baseball and
basketball. He subsequently lost his Olympic titles when it was found he was paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games (thus violating the
amateur status rules).Thorpe was of mixed
Native American and white ancestry. He was raised as a
Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a "Redskin" and "Indian athlete". He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career and
barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.
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