Category Archives: Olympics

Olympic History: Jim Thorpe Thanks King of Sweden…..

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Speaking of the Olympic Games in Rio.
I mentioned here once about the 1912 Olympics, and the interaction between the King of Sweden and American Gold Medal winner Jim Thorpe.

Jim Thorpe (a Native American) was born in Prague (Oklahoma not Czech, nor Bohemia), and became a versatile athlete. He famously told the King of Sweden who hung the gold medals around his neck and praised him as the greatest athlete in the world, allegedly “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world”.

Thorpe was reported to have answered: “Thanks, King“. Very likely what he said was: “Gee, thanks King“.

Cheers

Mohammed Haider Ghuloum