Reading Assignment for April 6th

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe was one of the greatest athletes to ever live. In fact, Sweden’s King Gustav V called
Thorpe the “greatest athlete in the world.” Thorpe did not have a life of luxury, but he was able to
accomplish many things. James Francis Thorpe was born in 1887 in a one-room cabin in Oklahoma.
He was a Potawatomi Indian and a descendant of the great Sauk and Fox Chief Black Hawk. He was
born a twin, but his brother died at the age of nine.

Jim participated in the 1912 Olympics for the United States, even though he did not become a U.S.
citizen until 1919. At the Olympic Games, Jim won the gold in both the pentathlon and the decathlon
events. He came back from Sweden with $50,000 worth of trophies.

A month later, the Amateur Athletic Union filed charges against Thorpe. They said he had played
summer baseball with the Rocky Mountain Club for money, which discredited his amateur status. Jim
had played for a small amount of money, but he was stripped of his medals and trophies. The same
year after the Olympics were over, Jim led his team to the national collegiate football championship.
From there, Jim went on to play six years with major league baseball.

Jim was the only American to excel as an amateur and professional in three major sports. Jim
Thorpe’s Olympic medals were returned posthumously on October 13, 1982. After his death, a town in Pennsylvania was renamed “Jim Thorpe” in his memory.

Story Questions
1. Why was Jim Thorpe named the greatest athlete of the year?
a. He was able to win a medal at the Olympics.
b. He was highly talented in many sports.
c. He was injured and was still able to run in the Olympic finals.
d. He was the favorite to win the Heisman trophy.

2. After reading the passage, what can you infer about Thorpe’s upbringing?
a. He was born in very humble circumstances.
b. Not much is known about Thorpe’s upbringing.
c. He was given the best athletic training.
d. He was born into an average family.

3. Which statement does not explain Thorpe’s experience with the Amateur Athletics Union?
a. Thorpe was happy to be recognized by the union.
b. Thorpe was treated strictly by the union.
c. Thorpe was stripped of his medals by the union.

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