Share

Duke Kahanamoku biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

  • NAME: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku
  • OCCUPATION: Professional Swimmer
  • BIRTH DATE: August 26, 1890
  • DEATH DATE: January 22, 1968
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Waikiki, Hawaii
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Honolulu, Hawaii
more about Duke

Best Known For

Surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968) was an Olympic swimmer, film actor, and sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Synopsis

Born in Hawaii on August 26, 1890, Duke Kahanamoku represented the United States at the 1912 and 1920 Olympic Games, bringing home the gold in freestyle and relay swimming events. He was also an excellent surfer, popularizing the sport in mainstream America. Kahanamoku was also a film actor and served as sheriff of Honolulu from 1932 to 1961.

Contents

Profile

(born Aug. 26, 1890, near Waikiki, Hawaii [now in the United States]—died Jan. 22, 1968, Honolulu) Hawaiian surfer and swimmer who won three Olympic gold medals for the United States and who for several years was considered the greatest freestyle swimmer in the world. He was perhaps most widely known for developing the flutter kick, which largely replaced the scissors kick.

Kahanamoku set three universally recognized world records in the 100-yard freestyle between July 5, 1913, and September 5, 1917 (53 seconds; broken by Johnny Weissmuller in 1922). In the 100-yard freestyle, Kahanamoku was U.S. indoor champion in 1913 and outdoor titleholder in 1916–17 and 1920. At the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912, he won the 100-metre freestyle event, and he repeated that triumph at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, where he also was a member of the victorious U.S. team in the 800-metre relay race. Kahanamoku also excelled at surfing, and he became viewed as one of the icons of the sport.

Intermittently from the mid-1920s Kahanamoku was a motion-picture actor. From 1932 to 1961 he was sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu. He served in the salaried office of official greeter of famous personages for the state of Hawaii from 1961 until his death.

Copyright © 1994-2011 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com

ADVERTISEMENT

GetGlue

9359474 9359474
profile id: 9359474
profile name: Duke Kahanamoku
profile occupation:
related profile id: 9359474
related profile name: Duke Kahanamoku
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/K/Duke-Kahanamoku-9359474-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/duke-kahanamoku-9359474
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups

    See all related groups

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!