This May, WPI Athletics is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by asking each of our coaches to pick a legendary or favorite Asian American in their sport. Next up is Duke Kahanamoku, a 7 time Olympic Gold Medalist from 1912-1930. He broke established swimming world records without any coaching, swimming the set distances in the bay of Honolulu. In 1934, Duke was an alternate for the US Water Polo Team in the Games. After the Olympics, he went on to play professional Beach Volleyball and he is credited with popularizing the ancient Hawaiian sport of Surfing. He also acted while living in Los Angeles and at one point saved the lives of 8 men whose boat had capsized in the harbor of Newport Beach using only his surf board. #aapi #APAEverywhere #APAHM