Kealoha, Warren P.
Swimming
b. March 3, 1904
d. Sept. 8, 1972
The first day he practiced for competitive swimming, Kealoha unofficially broke the world record in the 100-yard backstroke. As a member of a Hawaiian swimming team that included the great Duke Kahanamoku, Kealoha toured the mainland United States in 1920 before competing in the Olympics.
Kealoha set a world record of 1:14.8 in a 100-meter backstroke heat at the Olympics, then won the event in 1:15.2, which was also better than the previous world record. Because he used an unusual stroke, which has since become standard, judges debated for some time about whether to allow the victory. They eventually decided that his stroke was legal.
In October of 1922, Kealoha lowered his world record to 1:12.6. He won a second gold medal in the event at the 1924 Olympics, clocking an Olympic record 1:13.2, and he lowered the world record to 1:11.4 in June of 1926. However, Walter Laufer of the U. S. broke that record the following day while competing in Europe.
After suffering his first loss, in a very close race with Johnny Weismuller in 1926, Kealoha retired from competition.