Press Releases

Monterey, Calif. - February 14, 2006 - Two-time gold medalist, Robert Webster, will bring his coaching expertise to the Santa Catalina School beginning this spring. A California native, Webster won his first collegiate diving title, while attending Santa Ana Junior College in the late 1950s. With limited access to a pool, he practiced his approach off a board in a backyard sandpit.  His academic and diving pursuits soon led Webster to the University of Michigan, where Dick Kimball and 1948 Olympic Champion, Bruce Harlan coached him.

In the 1960 Olympic Games Platform Event, Webster saved his most difficult dives for last. He was the surprise favorite with a near perfect 2-½ somersault on his second to last dive, beating Gary Tobian by one of the narrowest margins in Olympic History. Webster earned a Gold Medal in the same event in the 1964 Olympics. His other major diving accomplishments include being the first U.S. diver to win the 10-meter diving competition in the history of the Pan American Games in 1963 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

After retiring from diving competition, Webster took a Far East tour for the State Department and then began a coaching career at Minnesota University and later at Princeton University. He also served as U.S. Diving Coach for the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.

Webster will coach diving team at Santa Catalina School. Coaching will take place at the Santa Catalina School's Salyer Aquatic Center.  The Center boasts a 25-yard by 30-meter pool that spans in depth from 4'9" to 13' with three two-meter diving boards. 

                                           

Santa Catalina School is dedicated to the education of young people between the ages of 5-18 by giving careful consideration to the individual abilities and potential of each child. The school's mission is to balance intellectual growth with spiritual awareness, creativity with order, and individuality with compassion. Santa Catalina School is enriched by the diversity of socioeconomic, religious, geographic, and cultural backgrounds represented by students and faculty. The Upper School includes boarding students from 14 states and nine countries. Local students come from not only the Central Coast, but from cities as far away as Gilroy, King City, Santa Cruz, San Jose and Santa Clara.  . For more information visit www.santacatalina.org or call 831.655.9300.