Keo Nakama
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Keo Nakama was an American swimmer whose career included a world record 20:29 in the mile swim, Big Ten Conference titles at 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 - 1944. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975.
The accomplishment Nakama is best known for is swimming from the island of Molokai to Oahu in Hawai'i, which he managed when he was 40 years old. 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.
