Native American Olympian Wears Mismatched Shoes After His Were Stolen
Taken in 1912, this photo shows Native American Jim Thorpe at the Olympics after having one of his shoes stolen. After discovering an unmatched pair of shoes in the garbage, Thorpe donned them as he proceeded to earn two gold medals in track and field. Additionally, he made history by becoming the initial Native American to achieve gold for the U.S. Thorpe was actually so dominant that he set decathlon records that stood until 1970. Presently, the existing records surpass his only by a second.
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Sadly, the International Olympic Committee revoked Thorpe’s medals when they discovered that he had briefly participated in minor league baseball before the Games. Fights are still ongoing to recognize this largely forgotten American icon.