In honor of Jim Thorpe, I was asked to illustrate him as a retro comic book hero. Upon researching Thorpe's life, I was moved by the fact that he experienced such unimaginable loss (twin brother, mother, and father passed away suddenly) and overtly racist treatment (his Olympic medals were revoked due to ridiculous technicalities) throughout his life. In lieu of the trials and unimaginable obstacles he faced, his accomplishments appear all the more legendary, heroic, and admirable. Though only three sports are represented in the seal behind him, Thorpe was considered the world's greatest athlete during his day and even won the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics (while wearing two different sized shoes that he found in the trash can. Truly remarkable. Look up the story). He was truly a one of a kind athlete and human being.
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