Surfer of the Century

Surfer of the Century by Ellie Crowe and illustrated by Richard Waldrep was a Texas Bluebonnet nominee in 2011.

This is an illustrated biography about Duke Kakanamoku.  He was born in 1890, in Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.  He had a large supportive family.  He learned to swim when he was young and worked hard to perfect his swimming.  Duke dropped out of high school so that he could focus on swimming and took odd jobs to be able to swim as much as he wanted.   So Duke and several of his friends started their own surf club.  In 1910, Hawaiian Amateur Athletic Union was formed so that athletes could be eligible to participate in the Olympic try-outs.  Duke broke many records, at first people did not believe that he had actually swam that fast.  Duke qualified for the Olympic try outs for the US, he was the first Hawaiian to do so.  He went to the mainland United States where he faced much discrimination, but he kept working hard.  Duke finally won a spot on the U.S.  team and went to Sweden, July 1912 to compete.   He won a gold medal.  1920, Duke went to Antwerp, Belgium and competed in the Olympics.   He won two more Gold medals.  Duke was able compete in 1932 Olympics in Berlin, Germany at the age of 41.  He won a total of 3 gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze.   Duke introduced surfing to both the United States and Australia.   While in California fishing boat capsized not far from shore.  Duke and his two friends used their surfboards.  They rescued a total of 16 fishermen.  Ever since this rescue, the surfboard has been standard equipment on emergency rescue trucks and lifeguard towers.  Duke went back to Hawaii and continued to promote swimming and surfing.  He died January 22, 1968.

This book was beautifully illustrated.  The illustrations are captivating and covey the wonder of swimming and surfing.

Crowe, E., & Waldrep, R. (2007). Surfer of the Century. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc.