Why did thorpe lose his gold medal because he actually got paid for playing and now professionals can play?

Question

Why did thorpe lose his gold medal because he actually got paid for playing and now professionals can play?

Answer 1

He actually got his metal back in recent years, although he had been dead for years.  The IOC changed the rules after they realized that amateurism in sports is a uniquely Victorian concept (something the NCAA needs to learn).

Obviously, the Greek athletes were basically professionals by today's standards.  They were often paid by their home city for winning, much like modern nations now pay Olympic athletes to win metals.

Answer 2

when did thorpe lose his gold???

i assume youre talking about ian thorpe, btw...

Answer 3

Are you talking about Jim thorpe? from 1912 olympics if so ...

Jim Thorpe played professional baseball in 1909 and 1910. Although the Olympic rules of 1912 didn't forbade anyone athlete who played professionally, the Amateur Athletic Union, in 1913, retro-actively stripped Thrope of his medals

Answer 4

change to rules so many times over the years  

Answer 5

Yes but they made a big thing about reinstating it fat lot of good that was years after he died.

I don't think we should have professionals playing I would be just as happy to see the up and coming talents compete.

If we want to watch the professionals play then we can go to Wimbledon, a NBL game and we have the world cup for the soccer players.

Answer 6

Ah, so we should go after every East German from 1968 on and strip their medals from them? Is that what's next?

Note to Mark: Jim Thorpe, the American Indian who competed for the USA. He was a professional football player as well, not a professional in the olympic events that he competed in. Many many years ago...just google Jim Thorpe.

Answer 7

Yes, but at the time they could not.

Answer 8

o.o