Today in History

May 28, 1888
“Greatest Athlete in the World”
James Francis "Jim" Thorpe is born in Oklahoma to parents of mixed Caucasian and Native American heritage. Despite his athletic success as a track and field star, headlines of the time describe him as an "Indian athlete," a prejudice that continues throughout his life. A gold medalist in the decathalon and pentathalon at the 1912 Olympics in Sweden, he is stripped of the medals after allegations that he had been paid to play baseball. He dies in 1953, and his gold medals are reinstated in 1983.



Today's Feature History Article

Fallen Star

When Mary Decker crashed to the ground at the Los Angeles Olympics 20 years ago this month, a young photographer was there to catch the anguish




 



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