Both men, by the accounts that survived them, considered themselves to be holders of second place and nothing more.

Wieslander, who was presented with the decathlon gold medal that should by rights have been his only if Thorpe’s disqualification were valid, reportedly refused to accept it.

Whether this account is precisely accurate has been questioned, but the family would later confirm, in 2022, that Wieslander had always held Thorpe to be the rightful champion.

The Athlete Behind The Controversy — What Happened Next

Jim Thorpe responded to the loss of his Olympic status the way he responded to most of what life had offered him: he kept moving.