Top 3 Best Native American Athletes Jim Thrope James Francis Thorpe ( May 28, 1887- March 28, 1953), A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, being the first Native American to win a gold medal for the USA. He won a medal in the P entathlon and Decathlon. Along with his two Olympic sports, Thrope played Football for the Canton Bulldogs ( 1915–1917, 1919–1920 ), Cleveland Indians (1921), and the Oorang Indians (1922–1923), and played Baseball, for the San Fransisco Giants (1913-1915, 1917-1919) Cincinnati Reds (1917), and the Atlanta Braves (1919). Maria Tallchief Maria Talllchief ( January 24, 1925- April 11, 2013), a member of the Osage Reservation, she not only was one one of the first great Native American, ballerinas, she was also one of the best ballerinas ever! She revived honors such as the Mademoiselle's “Woman of the Year” in 1951 and Dance Magazine's Annual Award in 1960. Maria also won the 1965 Capezio Award , one of the most prest...