Russell Swan

Russell Swan is a contestant from and .
In Samoa, Russell was the patriarch of Galu, and his charismatic leadership helped his tribe dominate Foa Foa. However, he was abruptly pulled from the game in one of the show's most frightening medical evacuations due to severe dehydration.
Russell's return performance in Philippines as a member of the ill-fated Matsing tribe was less flattering, as he was perceived by some of his tribemates as domineering and lacking in self-awareness, and was voted out after his tribe's fourth consecutive loss.
==Profile==
Retrieved from CBS.com
<tabber>Samoa=
Russell Swan (42)
Hometown: Glenside, Pa.
Occupation: Attorney
At 5'11" and 220 "semi-solid" pounds, this attorney spends his working hours suing companies and individuals who violate environmental laws. In addition to practicing law, Russell enjoys spending time with his wife and five-year-old daughter and watching independent films.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Russell's father fell victim to layoffs at a local steel mill and struggled to support his family. Forced to move into Section 8 housing, his parents eventually divorced but the separation did not weaken any of his relationships, including the one he shared with his parents. Russell's hero is his dad whom he says, "really loved his family and was a perfect example of what a husband should be to his wife, and what a dad should be to his child."
Despite tumultuous circumstances (or as a result of), Russell has been attracted to jobs with responsibilities ranging from environmental protection, minority youth education advocacy and representation for homeless individuals. He is a dedicated father and a loving husband and describes a perfect day as spending time with his daughter and ending the day by "talking" privately with his wife.
A passionate man, Russell cannot stand hearing over-generalizations about specific groupings of people and avoids discussing topics relating to race and sexuality because he feels that others usually have a hard time dealing with his conversation style.
Always prepared to joke and laugh at himself, Russell is willing to go to drastic lengths for a million dollars in order to win including making a vow to cut off his dreadlocks if he wins the title of Sole Survivor.
Currently, Russell resides in Glenside, Pa. His birthday is February 17.http://web.archive.org/web/20230322033103/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/36311/
==Survivor==
===Samoa===
Upon arriving in Samoa, Russell was placed on Galu. Russell was elected the Tribe Leader by his tribemates on Day 1, but was reluctant to accept the position. At camp, Russell managed to lead his tribe quite well despite having to make many difficult decisions, with his leadership skills motivating Galu to win challenge after challenge.
Seeing Shambo Waters' dismal performance around camp and in challenges, he sent an already alienated Shambo to be the observer of the Foa Foa tribe twice in a row, making her miss out on rewards; unbeknownst to Russell, Shambo enjoyed her visits with Foa Foa. When the downpour came in the second quarter of the game, Russell began to increase his work quota. This overexertion resulted in near-fatal consequences when Russell was evacuated during the Reward Challenge on Day 15 when his heart rate plunged, canceling the planned Double Tribal Council that night.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=9 	Chief's Choice 	Reward 	Yes 	
1 	Yank Your Hank 	Immunity 	No 	 	
2 	Schmergen Brawl 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Sea Crates 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
4 	Bocce In A Box 	Reward 	No 	 	
4 	Well Stacked 	Immunity 	Yes 	 	
5 	Samoa Smoothies 	Reward 	No 	 	
5 	Sack Attack 	Immunity 	No 	 	
6 	Roll With It 	Reward 	No 	N/A 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.	Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.	Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.	Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.	Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.	Notes: Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner.
|-|Voting History=
Episode	Russell S.'sVotes	Voted AgainstRussell S.
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	colspan="2" 	
6 	colspan="2" 	
 	 	
</tabber>
===Philippines===
Russell returned to the game for a second time, becoming a member of the Matsing tribe. Russell vocally announced that he did not want to be Matsing's leader, wanting to avoid what happened to him the first time around. However, Russell still gave out orders, causing fellow tribe members Angie Layton and Malcolm Freberg to consider voting him out at the earliest opportunity. Matsing managed to lose the first Immunity Challenge on Day 3, but Russell was spared when Zane Knight's strategy of asking to be voted out (to feel out who wanted him around) backfired, and he was unanimously voted out 5-1.
Russell would soon gain an ally, Roxy Morris, with the two wanting to split up Angie and Malcolm. Russell attempted to swing Denise Stapley (who, unbeknownst to both parties, was Malcolm's ally). Matsing would lose a second Immunity Challenge, though by a much smaller margin. At Tribal Council, Russell was once again spared, but decided to vote Roxy with the majority.
At the third Immunity Challenge on Day 8, Russell struggled to climb up the ladder out of the water, once again putting him in the hot seat against Angie, who also struggled, as Matsing once again lost by a small margin. At Tribal Council, Russell campaigned, saying that he was more dedicated to the game of Survivor and had more experience than Angie. Russell found himself spared again by a 3-1 vote as Angie was sent home.
With Matsing down to three, Russell was on the outs as he no longer had any allies, nor could he persuade either Denise or Malcolm to turn on each other. Russell tried to find the tribe's Hidden Immunity Idol, but failed to do so under Denise's watchful eye. At the next Immunity Challenge, Matsing lost for the fourth time in a row, causing Russell to snap by smashing the rice pot used in the challenge, telling host Jeff Probst that he wanted to be made of "excellence". Russell believed himself to be the swing vote as Denise and Malcolm plotted against the other, although this was a ruse to blindside Russell. At Matsing's fourth Tribal Council, a shocked Russell was voted out 2-1 and became the fourth person to leave the Philippines, finishing in 15th place.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode	TribeAffiliation	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out?	Result
1 	rowspan=4 	Share the Wealth	Reward/Immunity	No 	
2 	Manila Folders 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Deep In Thought 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
4 	Swing Break 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
|-|Voting History=
Episode	Russell'sVotes	Voted AgainstRussell
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
 	 	
</tabber>
==Post-Survivor==
* After coming home from , Russell fell into depression. He experienced denial and felt horrible because he had to re-live his experience while watching the show.
* Russell currently works as a private pilot and documents his flights on his YouTube channel. 
==Trivia==
* Russell applied for seven times before getting cast on .https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-russell-swan-talks-about-survivor-samoa-evacuation-9810.php Russell also made it to the casting semi-finals of .https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2009/09/survivor-samoa-russell_swan/
* Russell is the oldest man on the Galu tribe and the oldest member of the Matsing tribe.
* Russell's evacuation in Samoa was so severe that this incident marked the first time that a challenge was canceled while underway, with neither tribe awarded the win.
* Russell is the only returnee on to not be informally addressed by his last name.
* Russell is the first returning player who was eliminated without making the merge or the jury phase in any of their respective seasons.
* Russell is the second person to make the top three of their tribe but be voted out pre-merge following Ibrehem Rahman in . He would be followed by Genie Chen in and Sean Edwards in .
* Russell, Tom Westman, Francesca Hogi, Colton Cumbie, and Caleb Reynolds have been affiliated with only two tribes despite having played two seasons.
* Russell is the only returnee in Philippines who did not improve from his last placement.
* On both of his seasons, Russell appeared 13th in the opening credits.
==References==
Category:Contestants
Category:Male Contestants
Category:African-American Contestants
Category:Contestants Appearing in Multiple Seasons
Category:Samoa Contestants
Category:Philippines Contestants
Category:Galu Tribe
Category:Matsing Tribe
Category:14th Place
Category:15th Place
Category:Evacuated Contestants
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Contestants
Category:Survivor: Samoa
Category:Survivor: Philippines
Category:1967 births
Category:Living people