Jim Thorpe's legacy: A Native American's Olympic dream
By Paul Gittings, for CNN
(CNN) - A century after her childhood inspiration Jim Thorpe won two gold medals at the Stockholm Olympics, synchronized swimmer Mary Killman will be competing in her first Games in London this year.
Like the legendary athlete, Killman comes from a part Native American background in Oklahoma, and is a registered member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN).
Thorpe, who grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation, was spoken of in hushed tones by her elders.
"I'm very proud of my background," Killman told CNN. Her tribe are proud of her as well, regularly highlighting her achievements in their publications.
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The Citizen Potawatomi Nation doesn't seem to mind. Why do you?
At least she is a registered tribal member, which is far more than Elizabeth Warren and the other 1/32 Wanna bes can claim.
DRAG that in. Pathetic to shoehorn politics into this.
A homogenous group does not, DOES NOT, mean – all pure.
Well, pure what? You all think people look like some exact stereotype? Many Indian groups will tell you there is even a wide variety of looks in their own groups. That is the sad history, that people are told they all look like some one known of in their own group. Homogeneity is not necessarily the "seen" characteristic that makes up the likeness of a group. Here's hoping you all realize biology says far more than just what could be of its surface appearances...
not all native americans are totally brown, grant u being mixed has both advantages and diadvantages,
i am mixed, and find that my dads family have been trace to th 1600's and the mixing breeds, seems to come into play with my dad marrying my mom who is Irish..
most native americans married with in thier own families, and attempt to keep the heritage pure..but its also produced alot of phyiscal and mental problems with thier childern....what ever her reason is for wanting to validate the facts of her heritage are between her and her sprit.....either way i wish her good luck with her attempt for the gold medal..
Let's be honest here that even if she's registered as a member of a tribe, she's probably not that pure in bloodline. Too much time has passed for that, even though we continue to award millions of federal dollars to these programs and recipients who claim a pure heritage. Guilt goes a long way, apparently. This country elected Obama on that same level of thinking.
I am offended by all the "Native American" talk. Their ancestors came from Siberia. Mine came from Europe. They are no more "native" than I am.
The "legacy" headline is a real stretch.
Don't let these people bother you. They simply prolong what was once called "The Ugly American." - But, to be totally honest and on topic, I'm actually bothered by the writer's statement that Jim Thorpe won 2 gold medals. - JUST 2 gold medals?! Thorpe rec'd the gold in the Pentathalon (5 events) and again in the Decathalon (10 events). - A truly great man who was destroyed by the American political machine coupled with American prejudices. It's one of those areas that life has not evolved much since when he lived.
You don't win a medal for each event in the decathlon. You win the overall
The good news is that the white race is declining in europe as well as in america. The bad news is that the rate of decline is not rapid enough.
If she is Native American then George Bush has an IQ greater than 145.....
The white man had a 2-prong strategy to eliminate the native americans: (1) shoot them; or (2) screw them.
Unfortunately, they did too little of the former and too much of the latter.
Hey how are you hey.how are you
Silver in casino management
so true so true, could not help but laugh how she looks nothing like a true native american, she looks more white then native.
Wow . . . and just what does a "true Native American" look like?
What does a "true" Native American look like? Green – lots and lots of green.... in tax dollars paid out.
WE all should color blind to our skin colors. But if someone brings it up about his/her heritage, it won't bother me as well.
I certainly wish her well in representing the U.S. and am proud she's a citizen but let's not make a bigger deal than needed about her heritage – do we introduce Michael Phelps' heritage when he swims?
Fed Up: If Phelps had grown up in the kind of abject poverty typical of the average indian reservation, you can be sure it would be publicized heavily. That said, Killman's a synchronized swimmer, not a decathlete and pentathlete. It doesn't have nearly the street cred of Thorpe's accomplishments. But WTF. She's an Olympian and we're not, so maybe we should all just STFU and cheer her on when she competes. And Killman is terrific indian name.
She's representing an ethnicity that can boast a 75% unemployment rate. Hurray. Maybe she can get a job at Kinko's after the games.
If all the descendants of the european invaders would return to the land of their ancestors she wouldn't need a job
Bravo! Make us all proud!