Jim Thorpe: Triumph and Tragedy of the First Decathlon

On July 8, 1912, the first modern Olympic decathlon was held at the Stockholm Olympic Games. The decathlon, a grueling two-day event consisting of ten track and field disciplines, has since become one of the most prestigious and challenging events in the Olympic Games.

The winner of this historic event was Jim Thorpe, a Native American athlete from the United States. Thorpe's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he won four of the ten events outright and finished in the top four in all but one event. His total score of 8,412.95 points set a world record that would stand for nearly two decades.

Thorpe's victory was even more remarkable given the fact that he had competed in the pentathlon just a few days earlier, finishing fourth. The pentathlon, which consisted of five events (long jump, javelin throw, 200-meter dash, discus throw, and 1500-meter run), was held on July 7th.

In the decathlon, Thorpe's standout performances included winning the high jump with a leap of 1.87 meters (6 feet 1.5 inches), the 110-meter hurdles in 15.6 seconds, and the 1500-meter run in 4 minutes 40.1 seconds. He also won the pole vault with a height of 3.25 meters (10 feet 8 inches).

Thorpe's all-around athletic ability was truly remarkable, and his decathlon victory cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. He would go on to win gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympic Games, becoming the first and only athlete to achieve this feat.

Tragically, Thorpe was stripped of his Olympic titles in 1913 when it was discovered that he had played semi-professional baseball in 1909 and 1910, violating the strict amateurism rules of the time. However, in 1982, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially reinstated Thorpe's Olympic victories, recognizing him as the sole gold medalist in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon.

The legacy of Jim Thorpe and the first modern Olympic decathlon continues to inspire athletes around the world. The decathlon remains one of the most challenging and prestigious events in track and field, requiring a unique combination of speed, strength, endurance, and technical skill. Today, the event is often referred to as the "test of the world's greatest athlete," a fitting tribute to the incredible performance of Jim Thorpe on July 8, 1912.