He had not competed in a decathlon before Stockholm.

He had been selected for the American Olympic team based on his pentathlon performance at the eastern trials, where his dominance was sufficient that the selection committee added him to the decathlon entry as well.

In Stockholm, he would face athletes who had been specifically preparing for these events — Hugo Wieslander of Sweden had competed in decathlons constructed specifically for preparation for the Games.

Thorpe walked in having never done it before.