Jim Thorpe was the first native American Indian to win gold medals for the United States in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Thorpe won the gold in the 10-event decathlon and five-event pentathlon, but was stripped of his medals for playing semi-pro baseball in 1913. King Gustav said “He was the greatest athlete in the world”. But did you know Thorpe had his track shoes stolen the morning of his track and field events? He found a mismatched pair of shoes in the garbage and ran in them, winning two Olympic gold medals that day. In 1982 or 70 years after he was stripped of them, the 10C reinstated him and gave his medals back to his daughter. It was said that Thorpe was paid a measly $60 for playing in a minor-league baseball. His story was told in the film “The Bronze Man”, starring Burt Lancaster. Another famous personality in the Games was George S. Patton, who later became a general during World War II. Patton placed fifth in the modern Pentathlon.
1912 Olympic Marathoner dies
Portuguse Francisco Lazaro was the first athlete in the history of the modern Olympics to die during competition. Lazaro was one of the participants of 68 marathoners who started the race in sweltering heat. He collapsed and was brought to the hospital where he died. More than half of the runners dropped out.
Eliza “Liza’ fletcher run
Was a 34-year old mother who was abducted three weeks ago in Memphis. Her body was found a few days later behind a vacant complex. A 38-year old man Cleotha Henderson, with a prior kidnapping conviction, has been charged in Fletcher’s death, a mother of two and Junior teacher at Memphis Episcopal School. Fletcher was forced into a black SUV that was following her. Fletcher’s runner friends and supporters numbering over 2,000 gathered to hold a symbolic run to complete her last run dubbed “Let’s Finish Liza’s Run”.