Doug Russell (swimmer)

Douglas Albert Russell (born February 20, 1946) is an American former competitive swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in three different events.

Doug Russell

Personal information
Full name	Douglas Albert Russell
Nickname(s)	"Doug"
National team	United States
Born	February 20, 1946 New York, New York
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Butterfly, backstroke, individual medley
Club	Dick Smith Swim Gym
College team	University of Texas at Arlington
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City 100 m butterfly 1968 Mexico City 4x100 m medley Pan American Games 1967 Winnipeg 200 m medley 1967 Winnipeg 4x100 m medley Universiade 1967 Tokyo 100 m butterfly 1967 Tokyo 4x100 m medley 1967 Tokyo 100 m backstroke

Doug Russell Pool in Midland, Texas

Career

Russell was born in New York City,[1] but raised in Midland, Texas. He began swimming in high school for Midland High School, swimming in the new 50-meter "Alamo" pool built by the city in 1962. It was later renamed in his honor: the "Douglas Russell Swimming Pool."[2] He was an all-around swimmer in high school—swimming competitively in butterfly, backstroke, and individual medley events. Other school swimmers of the era remember him as a tough competitor who was hard to beat but who brought out the best in swimmers around him.[3]

He attended The University of Texas at Arlington, where he swam for coach Don Easterling's UT Arlington Mavericks swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition.[4] Doug Russell Park, part of the southern edge of the UT Arlington campus, is named in his honor. At the 1967 Pan American Games, he won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley. He also won an NCAA national championship in the 100-yard butterfly in 1968, and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national outdoor title in the 100-meter butterfly.[4]

At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Russell won the first-ever gold medal awarded in the men's 100-meter butterfly—an event which made its debut at the 1968 Olympics–in an upset over teammate and favorite Mark Spitz. He won another gold medal swimming the butterfly leg for the winning U.S. team in the 4×100-meter medley relay. Russell, together with relay teammates Charlie Hickcox (backstroke), Don McKenzie (breaststroke), and Ken Walsh (freestyle), set a new world record of 3:54.9 in the event final.

Russell was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1985.[4] He was the head coach of the Austin Trinity Aquatic Club up until it was disbanded in 2020.

See also

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of University of Texas at Arlington people
• World record progression 100 metres backstroke
• World record progression 100 metres butterfly
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay

References

1. Lohn, John (2010). Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow. p. 128. ISBN 9780810867758.
2. Midland City Dept of Parks Swimming Pools Archived May 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
3. T Paton About the Author. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
4. International Swimming Hall of Fame, Honorees, Douglas Russell (USA). Retrieved September 28, 2012.

External links

• Doug Russell at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• Douglas Russell (USA) – Honor Swimmer profile at International Swimming Hall of Fame