Archives for irrigation ditch swimmer

Natatorium swimming legend dies at 91

On Sept. 7, legendary Maui waterman, swimmer and coach Keo Nakama died at the age of 91. As two of the “original ditch boys from Camp 5,” Nakama and schoolboy friend and fellow swimming legend Halo Hirose learned to compete in Maui irrigation ditches under future Olympic swim coach Soichi Sakamoto. In college, Nakama swam for national championship teams at Ohio State University. He went on to capture the world record for the 100-meter freestyle and won five Pan Am Games gold medals. At age 41, Nakama was the first person to swim the Molokai Channel. He was inducted into
Read More

Categories: History and Uncategorized.