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6 unusual facts about Duke Kahanamoku


1920 Summer Olympics

Duke Kahanamoku retained the 100 m swimming title he won before the war.

Corona del Mar State Beach

Surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku is credited with the first use of a surfboard for rescue purposes at Corona del Mar beach in 1925, when a charted fishing vessel capsized in heavy surf and Kahanamoku rescued people via surfboard.

Freshwater, New South Wales

In December 1914, Duke Kahanamoku, the world sprint swimming champion, was touring Australia.

The ceremony came as part of an annual celebration of Duke Kahanamoku, who introduced surfing to Australia at Freshwater beach in 1915.

Keawaiki Bay

Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku spent his honeymoon in a guest house and helped design swimming pools on the property.

Rabbit Kekai

As surfing became a bigger part of his life, the boy looked to role models like Duke Kahanamoku, who instructed the ten-year-old Kekai in surfing and outrigger canoeing.



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