Google Doodle honours 'father of surfing' Duke Kahanamoku

The Google Doodle displayed on our homepages on Monday honours the Hawaiian-American competition swimmer, Duke Kahanamoku.

The swimmer who died at the age of 77 years on January 22, 1968 due to a heart attack was a man of many talents. Not only was he a swimmer, but also an actor, lawman, beach volleyball player and a businessman who spread the famous sport of Hawaii, surfing. 

He had achieved several accolades in his swimming competition career. In 1912, he won a gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle and a silver medal in the men's 4x200 meter freestyle relay at the Summer Olympics. He also qualified for the US Olympic swimming team in the same year.

He won his last Olympic medal among many at the age of 34 during the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He finished the 100 meter swim with a silver medal. After retiring from the Olympics, he went around giving swimming exhibitions which is when he popularised the sport of surfing. 

He also appeared in 14 movies and went on to have a beach front bar and restaurant in the Outrigger Waikiki On The Beach Hotel in Hawaii named after him, called Duke's Canoe Club & Barefoot Bar. There is also a bronze statue of the swimmer at Waikiki beach in Honolulu honouring him.   

The Google Doodle is a surfboard with the picture of 'Ambassador of Aloha' Duke Kahanamoku with his beloved Hawaii as a background.