Jim Thorpe
It was the summer of 1912, and the place was Stockholm, Sweden. Athletes from around the world were gathered there for the fifth modern Olympic Games. Among them, representing the United States, was Jim Thorpe. He was set to compete in a few events, including the decathlon, an event in which the winner would be given the title of world's greatest athlete.
The decathlon consisted of ten events taking place over three days. On the morning of day two, when Jim went to gather his track shoes for the competition, they were missing.
Without a store to purchase new shoes, he and his track coach went scouring trash bins looking for a discarded pair. His coach found two mismatched shoes. They were different styles and sizes. One shoe fit fine. The other was too big. But given time constraints, this was his best option. Jim put two pairs of socks on the foot with the big shoe. And he went to compete.
Despite wearing these track shoes, Jim dominated the decathlon. He placed first in four of the ten events. His performance was so exceptional that he set a points record that would stand for nearly two decades.
After the decathlon, King Gustaf V of Sweden famously declared to Jim, "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world." To which Jim modestly replied, "Thanks, King."
Jim returned home to a ticker-tape parade down Broadway in N.Y. His name was in the papers, the pride of a nation. He was the greatest athlete in the world.