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Duke Kahanamoku

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Swimmer

The Resume

    (August 24, 1890-January 22, 1968)
    Born in Honolulu, Hawaii
    Birth name was Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku
    Won Olympic gold medals in the 100 meter freestyle (1912,1920) and 4x200 meter freestyle relay (1920)
    Won silver medals in 4x200 meter freestyle relay (1912) and 100 meter freestyle (1924)
    Appeared in 28 films
    Inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame, Surfing Hall of Fame and US Olympic Hall of Fame

Why he might be annoying:

    His full name was extremely long.
    He dropped out of high school.
    At a meet in Honolulu harbor (August 11, 1911), he set records in the 50-yard, 100-yard and 220-yard freestyle, but the Amateur Athletic Union refused to recognize the records, claiming he must have been aided by ocean currents.
    He and the other American swimmers missed the semi-finals at the 1912 Olympics, but were allowed to take part in an extra heat to qualify for the finals.
    He was typecast as a native chief in his movies.

Why he might not be annoying:

    At the 1924 Olympics, he told rival Johnny Weissmuller, 'The most important thing in this race is to get the American flag up there three times'; they did it, with Weissmuller winning the gold, Duke the silver and Duke's brother Sam the bronze.
    When a yacht capsized in Newport Beach, California, he used his surfboard to rescue eight people (June 14, 1925).
    He was called 'the father of modern surfing' and 'Surfer' magazine named him most influential surfer of the 20th century.
    He was sheriff of Honolulu for 30 years (1932-61).
    He was depicted on a US postage stamp (2002).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 21 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 29 Votes: 10.34% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 53 Votes: 37.74% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 76 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 32 Votes: 34.38% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 104 Votes: 35.58% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 81 Votes: 43.21% Annoying