Jim Thorpe All-Around Award

Medallion Awards

CRITERIA: The Jim Thorpe All-Around Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in multiple sport and/or multiple events of the same sport. This individual should exhibit the qualities of versatility, strength, speed, flexibility, conditioning and training that exemplify superior athletic prowess.

Jim Thorpe was an Indian of the Sac and Fox tribe whose given name, “Bright Path,” became a legend for his athletic prowess. His natural ability and versatility took him to the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm where he won both the pentathlon and decathlon events. Thorpe stood before the royal box during those games in Sweden as the king proclaimed to him, “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.” The extraordinarily talented athlete went on to make his mark in the annals of professional baseball and football.

Previous Recipients

2009

Trey Hardee – U.S. world champion in decathlon

2008

Brian Clay – U.S. Olympic decathlon champion

2007

Carolina Kluft – Gold medalist and three-time world heptathlon champ

2006

Sheila Taormina – U.S. Open champion, Modern Pentathlon

2005

Hunter Kemper – World Cup triathlon champion

2004

Roman Sebrle – Decathlete and world and Olympic gold medalist

2003

Tom Pappas – World decathlon champion

2002

Natascha Badmann – Ironman Triathlon winner

2001

Julius Peppers – Football and basketball player at North Carolina

2000

Erki Nool – Olympic gold medalist, decathlon

1999

Tomas Dvorak – World record holder in decathlon

1998

Rob Stull – Executive director, USA Modern Pentathlon

1997

Kristin Folkl – Stanford University basketball and volleyball player

1996

Danny Ainge – Phoenix Suns player and former MLB third baseman

1995

Dan O’Brien – Olympic Gold medal winner in decathlon

1994

Deion Sanders – Cowboys football/Giants baseball player

1993

Dan O’Brien – World-record holder in decathlon

1992

Charlie Ward – Heisman Trophy QB at Florida State and NBA player

1991

Deion Sanders – Atlanta Braves and Falcons star

1990

Herschel Walker – Pro football player and Olympic bobsledder

1989

Willie Gault – Pro football player and Olympian sprinter and bobsledder

1988

Bo Jackson – Kansas City Royals and L.A. Raiders

1987

Bob Mathias – U.S. decathlon gold medalist in 1948 and 1952

1986

Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Olympic gold medalist in heptathlon

1985

Renaldo Nehemiah – Olympic hurdler and 49ers receiver