Jim Thorpe's medals

 In 1912 Jim Thorpe won the Olympic decathlon and pentathlon gold medals, but then had them taken away because years before he had earned $25 a week playing professional baseball.  In 1982 the Olympic Committee agreed to return his medals posthumously, but did not take away the medals from the Swedish and Norwegian athletes who had received the gold medals in 1912.

The Olympic officials in 1912 said no written rules existed.  Now a researcher has discovered that indeed there were rules; protests had to be made within 30 days of the award.  That had not been done.  

Interestingly, the people most adamant in 1912 that Thorpe’s medals should be taken away were the Americans.  Was racism involved?  Perhaps.

While I am all in favor of Thorpe getting his medals, I think we also should remember and honor Hugo Wieslander of Sweden (decathlon) and Ferdinand Bie (Norway).  Both men, according to what I read, expressed great reluctance to be awarded gold medals.  That is worth noting.

See Victor Mather, “Seeking to Restore Thorpe’s Gold Medals, More Than 100 Years Later,” New York Times, (Dec. 11, 2020), p. B-9.