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 competeing 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 -- swimming from the island of Molokai to Oahu in Hawai'i -- didn't happen until he was 40 years old. In September 1961, he crossed the 27-mile dangerous Ka Iwi Channel in 15 ½ hours; he was the first person to verifiably accomplish this feat.
