When was Jim Thorpe born and what is the confirmed date?
James Francis Thorpe was born between May 22 and May 28 of 1887 in Indian Territory. His baptismal record lists the 22nd of May 1887 as his birth date.
Questions about Jim Thorpe
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Jim Thorpe's Olympic medals after he played professional baseball?
The International Olympic Committee stripped him of his titles, medals, and awards because officials declared him a professional athlete. Hugo Wieslander refused to accept his gold medal since he felt Thorpe was the legitimate owner.
How did Jim Thorpe die and where did he pass away?
Jim Thorpe died on the 28th of March 1953 at age sixty-five after going into cardiac arrest while dining with his third wife Patricia in Lomita California. He had been hospitalized for lip cancer in 1950 as a charity case.
Why was Jim Thorpe buried in Pennsylvania instead of Oklahoma?
Patricia took Thorpe's body and shipped it to Pennsylvania when she heard Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk sought business. The towns bought his remains interring them there in 1957 and renamed themselves Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania.
When was Jim Thorpe reinstated as sole winner of the 1912 Olympics?
The IOC voted the 14th of July 2022 to reinstate Thorpe as sole winner after Norway and Sweden National Olympic Committees gave approval. In October 1982 the IOC Executive Committee approved reinstatement declaring Thorpe co-champion with Ferdinand Bie and Hugo Wieslander.