Duke Kahanamoku wins gold medal at Stockholm Olympics

Duke Kahanamoku went by boat to the Stockholm Olympics, traveling with Jim Thorpe, the champion Native American athlete. Kahanamoku won the gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle that year and both he and Thorpe were called up to the Royal Victory Stand to be awarded medals and wreaths directly from King Gustav of Sweden.

Duke had swum in the first Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet in Honolulu in 1911. Swimming the course in Honolulu Harbor, he'd shattered the 100 yard sprint record, beating the old mark by so much that the disbelieving judges had the course remeasured four times. He went on to compete in a total of four Olympic games, swimming in the international competition for the last time in 1932 at age 42 for the United States water polo team.

See also: Surfing: The Duke

Sites for further information

Various Articles about Duke Kahanamoku www.hawaiianswimboat.com/duke.html "Duke Kahanamoku" (City and County of Honolulu) www.co.honolulu.hi.us/cameras/waikiki_beach/duke.htm Memories of Duke (Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation) www.dukefoundation.org/odkfmemories.html Report a broken link.