By: Troy MacNeill

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 2, 2024) – More than a century after he set Olympic records and a couple years after having his Olympic gold medals restored, Jim Thorpe is being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On Friday, May 3, the family of Jim Thorpe will accept the distinguished honor.

Jim Thorpe was an AAU athlete who represented the United States in the Olympics and went down as one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports. In July of 2022, on the 110th anniversary of Thorpe’s gold medal performances at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) restored his record as the sole gold medalist of the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon and Decathlon.

Now, the Thorpe legacy grows even more with the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Just the thrill of it finally, finally, finally being recognized,” said Lynn Hannon, Thorpe’s granddaughter. “It’s one of the highest civilian awards, awarded in the United States… I’m so glad people still remember him. I’m so glad when his name is brought up, and they say, ‘Oh I know about him, I read about him. He was great.’”



Thorpe was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States. An all-time great on every stage, he was a natural athlete. He was also a passionate human being and did his best to help others along the way. Now, we will be given the highest honor to a citizen. Congratulations Mr. Thorpe.

To read more about Jim Thorpe’s amazing performance at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, click here. And to learn more about the restoration of Thorpe’s records, click here.