Duke Kahanamoku won Olympic gold for Hawaii in the summer 1912 Olympic, breaking both the world record in the 100-yard freestyle and racial barriers in sports. He competed in two more Olympics, winning a total of three Olympic gold medals, plus many more. Duke Kahanamoku revolutionized the sport of swimming with the flutter kick he developed in Hawaii and he brought surfing to the world.
Despite his considerable achievements, he remained humble and appreciative for his native Hawaii.
“Out of the water, I am nothing.” Duke Kahanamoku
Following are 8 highlights from the life of Duke Kahanamoku.
#1—He Was Hawaii’s First Olympiad
A native Hawaiian, Duke Kahanamoku was both Hawaii’s first Olympiad and first Olympic champion. According to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, in 1912 he broke the world record in the 100-yard freestyle by 4.6 seconds in his first competition. Kahanamoku alsowon silver for his Hawaiian flag in the 4×200 relay.
It was also the same year that women were first allowed to compete in swimming.
Prior to the 1912 Olympics, he broke three records in 50-yard, 100-yard and 220-yard freestyle events at a meet in Honolulu. Officials did not believe his accomplishments. To prove that he had indeed smashed the current records, he competed in meets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he broke records again.
In the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp Duke Kahanamoku won gold in both the 100-meter freestyle and 4×200-meter freestyle relay. At the Paris 1924 Olympic Games, he took silver in the 100-meter freestyle.
At the Paris 1924 Olympic Games, Kahanamoku took silver in the 100-meter freestyle. In the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, he was an alternate for the U.S. water polo team at age 42. (USOPM)
#2—He Introduced A New Swim Style
Kahanamoku, who won the 50-yard dash, the 220-yard and the 100-yard dash in the exposition meet, believes that he gets a good deal of his phenomenal sprinting power by keeping his body lower in the water than most of the crack American short-distance
men.
“1 have observed,” he said, “that many of your fastest swimmers here
use their feet on the surface, splashing a great deal. I, on the contrary, keep my feet underneath. I believe that gives me much more driving force in the crawl stroke. No energy is wasted.” (Iron County news)
#3—He Was Born to Royalty
Descended from a Native Hawaiian chief, Duke Kahanamoku was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug. 26 1890. His full name was Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku. He was named after his father who was named after the Duke of Edinburgh who visited the islands in 1869. Duke Junior, the eldest of six brothers, grew up near the beach at Waikiki.
It was a time when people were shattering social norms and racial barriers.
According to Surfer Today, Kahanamoku had to quit school to support of his family.
“The young Kahanamoku finished elementary school and entered the Kamehameha Industrial School but never graduated because his family needed money.
Duke had to work to help pay the bills. He sold newspapers, transported ice, and shone shoes.”(Surfer Today)
For context, Kahanamoku was born just a few months after Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland returned from their epic race for solo women travelling around the world.
It was also a time of political upheaval in Hawaii, with the recent death of King David Kalakaua.
The “surfing princess Kaiulani” born October 16, 1875 fought for her right to the throne in 1893 when a small group of sugar and pineapple-growing businessmen deposed Hawaii’s queen. Aided by the American minister to Hawaii and backed by heavily armed U.S. soldiers and marines, “they imprisoned the queen and seized 1.75 million acres of crown land and conspired to annex the islands to the United States.” (Digital History)
#4—He Valued Excellent Sportsmanship
Duke Kahanamoku believed that physical prowess without sportsmanship had no heart. According to Iron County news of Hurley Wisconsin (December 25, 1915)
“The biggest thing in sport? It is the heart to accept defeat gracefully.”
The Duke Kahanamoku, greatest of swimmers, has just been beaten, together with his teammates, in the grueling 300-yard exposition relay
swim at San Francisco by the Illinois Athletic club.
His smile and unstinted praise for the victors gave his words a personal
application.
“The duke’’ Knows how to lose as well as to win.
Others there were at the swimming meet who grumbled and protested
under the smart of defeat. But not the big Kanaka world’s champion
from the South Seas.
“The man who mopes when he’s beaten,” said Kahanamoku, “shows
something in his make up which will usually prevent him from winning high honors. He’s not a sportsman.
A man’s got to keep cheerful to be a victor.
“It is particularly necessary that the youngsters who expect to make
records keep that in mind —not to feel bitter over defeat. Keep smiling
and trying. A smile develops energy.”
#5-He Popularized Modern Surfing
Not just for recreation, surfing in ancient Hawaii was tightly woven into the culture. “Wave sliding” as it was called, was considered an art form. Surfing expressed an attitude of reverence for nature and a graceful way of living–as well as an athletic skill.
But by the end of the 19th century, foreign missionaries had almost “erased” surfing from the Hawaiian Islands.
Yes, Princess Kaiulani was known to surf and her Cousins brought surfing to Santa Cruz in 1885.
But Duke Kahanamoku, who had becme a swimming legend, also became known as the Surfing Ambassador to the world. According to Surfer Today:
“…he traveled to California, Australia, New Zealand and beyond to demonstrate his prowess on homemade wooden surfboards (his favorite was 16 feet long and weighed 114 pounds), popularizing that sport.” (Surfer Today)
“On December 23, 1914, the dark-skinned athlete was the star of the first-ever surfing exhibition in Freshwater Beach, Sydney, Australia.” (Surfer Today)
#6—Saved lives With His Surfboard
On June 14, 1925, Duke Kahanamoku was enjoying a beach day at Carona Del Mar in Newport Beach when a fishing boat sank off the coast. Although he was not a trained lifesaver, Duke Kahanamoku performed an extraordinary rescue.
The Lifesaving Society of Quebec writes that although Kahanamoku was not officially trained in lifesaving, he acted instinctively with the best tool at hand.
“Going back and forth three times with his surfboard, Duke saved eight people. And two other surfers also rescued four people.” (LifeSaving Society of Quebec)
From that time forward, lifeguards began to adapt boards for lifesaving efforts.
#7–He Expanded Into Other Sports
According to Iron County news of Hurley Wisconsin (December 25, 1915) Duke Kahanamoku was moving beyond swimming.
“Not content wiih his Wonderful swimming prowess, the holder of the
world’s 50-yard and 100-yard records is now going in for sculling, tennis and baseball, not alone to satisfy his own ambitions, but to lend his influence in broadening the sport activities in the islands, especially among the young men.” (Iron County news)
#8–Life After Medals
Later in life, he served as the Honolulu sheriff for nearly 30 years. He was also the city’s official greeter, welcoming visitors to island and teaching its customs. He was said to have taught Queen Elizabeth how to hula dance.
He acted in nearly 30 movies and played the ukulele. Last, but not least, Duke’s restaurants are named in his honor.
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