Perseverance Wins – An Olympian’s Story

Look closely at the photo, you can see that he’s wearing different socks and shoes. This wasn’t a fashion statement. It was the 1912 Olympics, and Jim, an American Indian from Oklahoma represented the U.S. in track and field. Before the final event of the decathlon at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm — a 1,500-meter foot race — Thorpe reached into his bag and found that his shoes were missing. (Many have said they were stolen.)

Jim ended up finding two shoes: one in a garbage can and borrowed another from a teammate. That’s the pair that he’s wearing in the photo. The shoe from the garbage was too small and the shoe from the teammate was too big. In fact, the second shoe was so large, he had to wear an extra sock.The shoe from the garbage was too small and the shoe from the teammate was too big. In fact, the second shoe was so large, he had to wear an extra sock. Click To Tweet

Even wearing these shoes, Jim won two gold medals that day – the decathlon and the pentathlon. In both events, Jim beat strong competition. Specifically in the decathlon, his Olympic record stood until 1972 and his 688-point gap over Swedish silver medalist Hugo Wieslander remains one of the largest in Olympic history.

The Decathlon events are: (first day) 100-meter dash, running long (broad) jump, shot put, high jump, and 400-meter run; (second day) 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500-meter run. The Pentathlon events are: sprint (200 meters), the long jump, the discus throw, the javelin throw, and 1,500 meter run. Jim won overall 8 of the 15 events comprising the decathlon and the pentathlon.

This is a perfect reminder that you don’t have to resign to the excuses that have held you back. So what if life hasn’t been fair? What are you going to do about it today? Whatever you woke up with this morning: stolen shoes, ill health, failed relationships, don’t let it stop you from running your race. You can experience more in life if you’ll get over the excuses and get on with living.Whatever you woke up with this morning: stolen shoes, ill health, failed relationships, don't let it stop you from running your race. You can experience more in life if you'll get over the excuses and get on with living. Click To Tweet

As the writer of Hebrews wisely challenged each of us: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1-2).

Note: This is an adaptation of several stories and responses from Facebook. I’m grateful for a friend who shared it with me. There are several versions of the story but the fact is he won a gold medal with the mismatched, ill-fitting shoes. For more information on his life, check out this great article: “Jim Thorpe: Oral history project in 1960s becomes quest to right wrong.“