Jim Thorpe was born in the late 1880’s in what was then known as Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma. Thorpe who was predominantly of Native American descent, was a member of the Sac & Fox Nation. However, his father who had some European blood, felt that it was important for his son to attend school and assimilate into the English speaking culture. 

After a series of tragic personal losses, including the death of his twin brother and his mother, Thorpe was eventually sent away to school by his father who wished for him to get an education. Despite his hopes of staying home and his general dislike for school, Thorpe eventually traveled to Pennsylvania, where he attended the Carlisle Indian School. It was there that his extraordinary athletic ability was first noticed. 

Thorpe went on to excel in many different sports, including baseball, football and track & field. He attended the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden where he won two gold medals for the pentathlon and the decathlon, becoming the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. Sadly, those medals were later rescinded when it was discovered that Thorpe had briefly played for a minor league baseball team for a small amount of money. In 1982, almost thirty years after his death, his gold medals were restored to his family. However, Thorpe remained listed in the record books as co-winner of those events.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Jim Kossakowski, the great grandson of Jim Thorpe. Jim will share stories from the life of one of America’s most iconic athletes and will also share what it is like to be descended from the legendary Jim Thorpe.

After the interview….

Please note that in July of 2022, shortly after the recording of this interview, The International Olympic Committee restored Jim Thorpe’s name as the sole gold medal winner of pentathlon and decathlon events at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm.

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

Photo(s): Courtesy of Jim Kossakowski

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