Keo Nakama
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Medal record
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Keo Nakama (May 21, 1920 – September 8, 2011) was an American swimmer.
Nakama was born in the town of
He was one of a group taught by Soichi Sakamoto at the Puʻunene School[2] His swimming career included a world record 20:29 in the mile swim,Ohio State, and numerous national and international victories. The outbreak of World War II prevented his competing in an Olympic Games: Nakama was at his peak from 1940 to 1944. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975.[1][3]
Nakama is best known for swimming from the island of Molokai to Oahu in Hawaii, at 40 years of age. In September 1961, he crossed the dangerous 27-mile Ka Iwi Channel in 15 ½ hours; he was the first person to verifiably accomplish this feat.[2]
Nakama was later elected to the
Hawaii State House of Representatives, where he served for five terms until 1974.[4] He died in Honolulu at the age of 91.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Loomis, Ilima (September 8, 2011), "'Pioneer in swimming' Nakama dies at 91: Maui native overcame adversity to set records", The Maui News
- ^ ISBN 978-1455523443.
- ^ "KEO NAKAMA (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ "Flags at half-staff in honor of Nakama", Hawaii 24/7, September 30, 2011
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keo Nakama.
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin: "They don't make them like Keo no more"
- Honolulu Advertiser: "Nakama ruled in the pool, shined on the baseball diamond"
- http://www.swimnews.com/news/view/8901
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