Know Your Olympics: Stockholm Olympics 1912

Jim Thorpe and the conflict of amateurism

Jim Thorpe - The unlucky witness of the conflict between professionalism and amateurism

Jim Thorpe, an American athlete, participated in both the classic pentathlon and the decathlon at the Sweden Olympics.

He won both events and earned a personal recommendation from the Swedish royal family. However, in 1913, it was learned that Thorpe used to play professional baseball before the Olympics and was stripped of his medals. There were strict rules regarding amateurism in those days. No professional athlete could dare compete at the Olympics.

However, Thorpe didn't know about the rules nor did he violate the 30-day clause. He received many offers from professional football teams and was reasonably successful but The Great Depression put paid to his career. He eventually passed away due to heart failure.

It took 70 whole years for the International Olympic Committee to finally realize their folly and they sought forgiveness from Thorpe's family. They also restored his medals.