Duke Kahanamoku
SwimmingWater Polo

Duke Kahanamoku

Olympian 1912, 1920, 1924

  • 3

    GOLD

  • 2

    SILVER

  • 0

    BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Duke Kahanamoku

Age

Died (Aged 77)

1890-1968

Hometown

Honolulu, HI

Name: Duke Kahanamoku
Sports: Swimming, Water Polo
Event(s): 100-meter Freestyle, 4x200 Freestyle; Team
DOB: 8/24/1890
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Olympic Experience
  • Three-time Olympian (1912, 1920, 1924); five-time Olympic medalist (3 golds, 2 silvers)
  • Stockholm 1912, gold (100-meter freestyle), silver (4x200 freestyle)
  • Antwerp 1920, gold (100 freestyle, 4x200 freestyle)
  • Paris 1924, silver (100 freestyle)
Personal: Son of Duke Halapu Kahanamoku and Julia Pa’akonia Lonokahikina Paoa...One of eight siblings...Named Duke in honor of his father, who was born during a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to Hawaii in 1869...Founded the Hui Nalu Surf Club in 1911...Participated in the first Amature Athletic Union swimming event held in Hawaii in 1911...Widely known for developing the flutter kick technique...Also excelled at surfing, becoming one of the sport’s first icons as the father of modern Surfing...Taught the Prince of Wales how to surf in 1920...Acted in motion pictures intermittently beginning in the 1920s...Served as sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu from 1932-61...Nicknamed the Bronze Duke of Waikiki.
Olympic Experience
  • 3-time Olympian; 5-time Olympic medalist (3 gold, 2 silver)
    • Olympic Games Paris 1924, silver (100m Freestyle - Men)
    • Olympic Games Antwerp 1920, gold (100m Freestyle - Men, 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay - Men), 4th (Team - Men)
    • Olympic Games Stockholm 1912, gold (100m Freestyle - Men), silver (4 x 200m Freestyle Relay - Men)

Duke Kahanamoku was a swimmer and surfer who popularized the sport of surfing, and won five Olympic medals, including three golds. He set three world records in the 100-yard freestyle between 1913 and 1917. Kahanamoku earned his medals at the Olympic Games Stockholm 1912, the Antwerp 1920 Games and the Paris 1924 Games. He also served as an alternative on the U.S. water polo team at the Antwerp Games. Kahanamoku became a motion-picture actor during the mid-1920s and served as sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu between 1932 and 1961. He passed away on Jan. 22, 1968, in Honolulu. Nicknamed the father of modern Surfing, Kahanamoku was honored with a bronze statue on Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, Hawaii. He was also inducted into both the Surfing Hall of Fame as well as the Swimming Hall of Fame.

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