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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.
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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.