Russell Webb (water polo)
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Oral Surgeon
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1945 (age 80) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation(s) | Dentist Oral Surgeon |
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming, Water Polo |
| College team | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Club | Phillips 66 WPC Inland Nu-Pike WPC |
| Coached by | Bob Horn (UCLA) Monte Nitzkowski (72 Olympics) |
Medal record | |
Russell Irving "Russ" Webb (born June 1, 1945) is a retired water polo player from the United States. He played in two consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1968. He won a bronze medal with the Men's National Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.[1][2]
Russell Webb was born June 1, 1945 to Mr. and Mrs. Irving Webb in Los Angeles, California, and attended Fullerton High School where he competed in water polo from around 1960-1963.[3][4] In a rare distinction at age 15, in July 1960, Russell qualified as an Eagle Scout for Boy Scout Troop 99 in July, 1960 while living in Yorba Linda, California in greater Los Angeles. His citation was presented to him by Boy Scout representative Harlan Bassett and signed by President Eisenhower.[5]
Webb excelled on the international stage in swimming prior to receiving recognition as a water polo competitor. At the 1967 Pan-American Games, he captured a silver medal in the 100meter breaststroke and a gold in the medley relay.[4]
Enrolling in 1963, and graduating in 1968[4], Webb attended and competed for the University of California Los Angeles, where he was coached and trained by UCLA Head Water polo and swimming coach Bob Horn. A long serving coach, Horn coached men's water polo at UCLA from from 1965-1991.[6][7]
At UCLA, for three successive years from 1965-67, Webb played on NCAA Championship water polo Teams which were also PAC-8 conference Champions during the same period. During his collegiate years, Webb received All American honors in three years in both swimming and water polo. He established two records for NCAA competition, and the UCLA water polo teams he played for were undefeated during all four years of his playing tenure.[7][3] Excelling in swimming, Webb acquired nine medals in Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) Conference Championship competitions, which included seven first place medals.[7]
Olympics
1968 Mexico City Olympics
Webb competed in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in water polo where the U.S. team finished fifth overall.[4]
1972 Munich bronze medal
Webb participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the Men's water polo Olympic team competition under Head Olympic Coach Monte Nitzkowski and Assistant Coach Art Lambert. The 1972 U.S. men's Olympic water polo team consisted of James Ferguson, Peter Asch, Webb, John Parker, Bruce Bradley, Steven Barnett, Barry Weitzenberg, James Slatton, Gary Sheerer, and Stanley Cole.[8] The U.S. had not stood on the medal podium in water polo since 1932.[4]
Career
Webb graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry,[7] in the greater Los Angeles town of Westwood.[citation needed] He later served as an oral surgeon in Claremont, California, around 30 miles East of downtown Los Angeles.<[citation needed]
Honors
In 1984, Webb became a member of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, and was became a member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.[3][7]
