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COURTESY GOOGLE
Matt Cruickshank, a Google graphic designer, remembered Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary surfer and three-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, with a drawing that features Kahanamoku’s iconic smile and a surfboard. Google created the doodle in celebration of Kahanamoku’s 125th birthday.
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Duke Kahanamoku’s birth, Google changed its search banner in his honor.
Kahanamoku, born in Honolulu in 1890, was a legendary surfer and swimmer who won five Olympic medals in swimming, including three golds. Matt Cruickshank, a Google graphic designer, remembered the legend known as the Ambassador of Aloha with a drawing — Google calls it a doodle — that features Ka-hanamoku’s iconic smile and a surfboard, of course.
KAHANAMOKU’S swimming and surfing skills gained him international exposure. In 1917 off Waikiki he rode a wave for more than a mile on a 16-foot-long surfboard. He traveled internationally to present swimming and surfing demonstrations. He appeared in Hollywood movies and was the sheriff of Honolulu for 26 years.
Kahanamoku died of a heart attack on Jan. 22, 1968, at age 77.
Krisztina Radosavljevic-Szilagyi, Google’s manager of global commu nications and public affairs, said the search engine giant chose Ka-hanamoku to highlight his many accomplishments.
“He’s just an amazing person to celebrate, with so many contributions to the world from essentially introducing the world to surfing to swimming — and what he’s done for his communities,” she said in an email.
