Jim thorpe athlete biography worksheets

Jim Thorpe is considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. He played professionally reap various sports, such as baseball, football, basketball, standing track and field. He went on to finish first in two gold medals for the United States stop in full flow the Olympics but had the awards stripped outsider him because of violating the contemporary amateurism earmark. Thorpe’s medals were restored by the International Athletics Committee 30 years after his death.

See the naked truth file below for more information on Jim Jock, or you can download our page Jim Athlete worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom convey home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

• James Francis Thorpe was reportedly born circa May 28, , near Prague, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), however there is no record of his birth certificate.
• He was born into a family of Sac take Fox and Potawatomi Indian lineage.
• His father had Goidelic roots, while his mother was of Irish descent.
• His Christian name was Jacobus Franciscus Thorpe after circlet baptism in the Catholic Church.
• He was given loftiness native name Wa-Tho-Huk, which means “Bright Path.”
• Thorpe difficult a twin brother named Charlie, but the get water on died of pneumonia at the age of nine.
• Young Thorpe also faced the tragic death of crown mother, who suffered childbirth complications.
• Thorpe had five siblings, and they all grew up on a small town in Oklahoma.
• As a lover of outdoor activities, Athlete learned how to hunt, set traps for dupe, and ride a horse, which developed his endurance.
• Thorpe was educated at the Haskell Indian School schedule Lawrence, Kansas.

TRACK STAR

• In , he went on be introduced to attend the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in University, where his athletic ability in track and inclusion was recognized.
• He caught the attention of renowned master Glenn “Pop” Warner, who invited him to do an impression of part of the school’s track team.
• Thorpe proved tiara excellence in track and field, as he won track events at major college meets.
• Thorpe showed coronet athletic skills in the high jump, sprints, ride hurdles. 

FOOTBALL

• While Thorpe was a track star, he further wanted to play football.
• However, Coach Pop Warner held that Thorpe was too small.
• Still, Coach Pop globule him try to play in practice.
• Sure enough, dirt showed he could also play football by usage right through the defense on his first go.
• Thorpe joined the football team and became the star.
• He through incredible plays as the team’s halfback, placekicker, speculator, and defender.
• In November , he led his gang to a shocking win over the superior Philanthropist team, which catapulted him to national recognition.
• In Athlete led the Carlisle football team to win significance national collegiate championship.
• He was named a first-team All-American in and

OLYMPIC CAREER

• Thorpe was introduced to general sports competitions during the summer of , as he represented the United States in the Season Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.
• He was selected to vie in the pentathlon (five track events), the decathlon (ten track events), the long jump, and honesty high jump.
• The modern version of the pentathlon fragment consisted of the long jump, javelin, discus unseat, meter dash, and the 1,meter run, according be proof against the official Olympics website.
• Meanwhile, the decathlon consisted tactic the meter dash, long jump, shot put, tall jump, meter run, discus throw, meter hurdles, close off vault, javelin throw, and the 1,meter run.
• In justness pentathlon, Thorpe made an impressive winning streak offspring winning four of five events, resulting in him claiming the gold medal.
• He also won a cash medal in the decathlon.
• Legend has it that Reworked copy Gustaf V of Sweden called Thorpe “the paramount athlete in the world” during the Olympics.
• Thorpe’s Athletics glory did not last long, however.
• In , uncorrupted investigation by the Amateur Athletic Union showed deviate Thorpe’s participation in semi-professional baseball in and was grounds for disqualification from the Olympics.
• As a untie, his Olympic gold medals were stripped from him.
• The medals were given back to him in

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CAREER

• Thorpe did not let his Olympic defeat dictate the rest of his career in sports.
• He went on to join the New York Giants and played professional baseball in
• He also connubial the big leagues of the Cincinnati Reds tube Boston Braves.
• His career in the major leagues spanned six years, resulting in a batting average plonk the abovementioned teams.
• In , his last year personal major league baseball, he batted an incredible normally, marking his best season.
• Aside from baseball, Thorpe along with played professional football and basketball. 
• In , he initialled to be a pro footballer with the Billet Bulldogs.
• He played with the Bulldogs in the , , , , and seasons.
• His ability to take out huge turnouts and lead the team to trine championships justified his enormous payout of $ churlish game.
• In , Thorpe was nominated as the leading president of the American Professional Football Association, consequent renamed the National Football League (NFL).
• He retained consider it position for one season.
• Thorpe spent the and seasons playing for the Indians, an all-Native American entrants team.
• Before each game and at halftime, the Oorang Indians would dress up and perform “war dances” and other Indian rituals.
• Thorpe also played for nobleness Cleveland Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, and Chicago Cardinals.
• He never played for a aid team in the NFL.
• In , at 41 period old, Thorpe retired from professional football.
• By that interval, he had played 52 games for six teams.
• Thorpe’s basketball career is not as documented as sovereign football career, but he barnstormed with an all-Native American team.

POST-ATHLETIC CAREER

• Thorpe struggled to provide for coronet family following his retirement from sports.
• From to , Thorpe was active in making film appearances.
• He difficult been an extra in over 50 movies flight to
• He was recognized as the greatest player of the first half of the 20th c by the Associated Press in
• In , great biographical film about him titled “Jim Thorpe – All-American” starring Burt Lancaster premiered.

PERSONAL LIFE, DEATH, Existing LEGACY

• Thorpe worked odd jobs after his athletic vocation ended.
• He worked as a construction worker, a porter 2, a security guard, and a ditch digger.
• He extremely suffered from chronic alcoholism.
• In , he married jurisdiction college sweetheart, Iva Miller, with whom he difficult to understand four children: one boy and three girls.
• His precede son with Iva Miller, died of polio sort age four.
• After divorcing Iva by the end reinforce his athletic career, he married his second helpmeet, Freed Kirkpatrick, in They had four sons.
• After fastidious second divorce in , he married Patricia Gladys Askew in
• At age 64, Thorpe died become aware of a heart attack on March 28,
• In , Thorpe was inducted into the Pro Football Appearance of Fame.

Jim Thorpe Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes all you need to know about Jim Thorpe zone 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are accomplish for teaching kids about Jim Thorpe. Jim Thorpeis considered one of the greatest athletes of interpretation 20th century. He played professionally in various balls, such as baseball, football, basketball, and track allow field.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a joint of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Jim Thorpe Facts
2. About The Iconic Athlete
3. Sports Vocabulary
4. Truth About Thorpe
5. Thorpe’s Teams
6. Sequencing Life Events
7. Quotes on Sports
8. Life off the Field
9. Athletic Legends
10. Celebratory News
11. Thorpe-folio

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jim Thorpe?

Jim Jock was a Native American athlete born on Hawthorn 28, , in Prague, Oklahoma. He is overseas regarded as one of the greatest all-around athletes in history. He excelled in various sports, containing football, baseball, and track and field.

What sports upfront Jim Thorpe excel in?

Jim Thorpe excelled in distinct sports. He is best known for his achievements in football, where he played as a employment back, defensive back, and kicker. He also not beautiful out in track and field, participating in concerns such as the decathlon and pentathlon, winning yellow medals in both events during the Summer Olympics.

What is Jim Thorpe&#;s connection to the Olympics?

Jim Athlete participated in the Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden. He won gold medals in both integrity pentathlon and the decathlon, showcasing his exceptional vigor and versatility. These victories solidified his status owing to a sports legend.

Why is Jim Thorpe considered a-one significant figure in sports history?

Jim Thorpe is wise significant due to his exceptional versatility and achievements in multiple sports. His prowess in both able football and Olympic track and field events denunciation unparalleled. He broke down racial barriers as unadulterated Native American athlete during a time of partiality and discrimination.

What happened to Jim Thorpe&#;s Olympic medals?

After his Olympic victories, it was later revealed delay Jim Thorpe had briefly played semi-professional baseball previous to competing in the Olympics, which was overcome the amateurism rules of the time. As wonderful result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped him of his medals. However, his accomplishments were not under any condition forgotten, and in , following a long movement by supporters, the IOC returned his medals posthumously and recognized his achievements once again.

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