STOCKHOLM – Hannes Kolehmainen was the first of the “Flying Finns.” Duke Kahanamoku was the father of modern surfing.
Jim Thorpe was the modest, uncomplicated Native American who might be the greatest athlete ever.All three were sporting trailblazers in their own right, and all three gained world-wide attention because of their gold-medal performances at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.The fifth Summer Games — and the last for eight years because of World War I — was marked by controversy, tragedy and the first use of technology.It was the most global Olympics so far, too, with athletes from five continents taking part after Japan became the first Asian country to compete.There was no denying the stand-out performers.Kolehmainen won three.