New Delhi: Google today pays tribute to the legendary Hawaiian surfer and Olympic-medal winning swimmer Duke Kahanamoku. Aug. 24 marks what would’ve been Kahanamoku’s 125th birthday as he passed away in 1968.
The doodle created by illustrator Matt Cruickshank features a 16-foot wooden surfboard along with Duke's warm-hearted smile characteristic of his unassailable spirit.
Duke was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first of nine children, and was a strong swimmer from an early age, breaking three freestyle world record in 1911.
Besides popularising surfing worldwide, he was also known as an actor, lawman, early beach volleyball player and businessman.
Kahanamoku dubbed as the King of all swimmers and also known as the Big Kahuna, won five Olympic medals in swimming.
