Contents
Athlete
Duke Kahanamoku
Famoose for
Winning Olympic swimming gold and spreading surfing internationally.
Olympic gold · Two gold medals
- Born
- 24 August 1890
- Birthplace
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Died
- 22 January 1968
More people
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku was a Native Hawaiian athlete whose influence extended from competitive pools to ocean sport.
Early life
Waikiki
Grew up swimming and surfing in the ocean.
Early racing
Developed speed outside formal pool training.
Career
- 1910s
International swimming
Entered Olympic competition.
- 1920s
Sport and demonstrations
Competed and demonstrated surfing abroad.
- Later life
Public service
Served as Honolulu’s sheriff and a cultural ambassador.
Achievements
Olympic gold
Won the 100m freestyle.
Two gold medals
Won individual and relay titles.
Surfing demonstrations
Helped popularise the sport in Australia.
Beyond sport
Rescue
Used a surfboard in a major California sea rescue in 1925.
Culture
Remained closely identified with Hawaiian ocean traditions.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
