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Today in History: IOC Awards Commemorative Medals to Jim Thorpe's Family

1/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On January 18, 1983, the International Olympic Committee awarded commemorative medals to the family of Jim Thorpe, an American athlete stripped of his original gold medals for playing semi-professional baseball prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics. This recognition came thirty years after his death, honoring his legacy as a pioneering Native American athlete.

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Story summary

On January 18, 1983, the International Olympic Committee awarded commemorative medals to the family of Jim Thorpe, an American athlete stripped of his original gold medals for playing semi-professional baseball prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics. This recognition came thirty years after his death, honoring his legacy as a pioneering Native American athlete.