American Olympic gold medal hopeful Gary Russell Jr. out of Olympics after collapsing

Bantamweight Gary Russell Jr. of Capitol Heights, one of the U.S. boxing team's top contenders for a medal, is out of the Olympics after collapsing Thursday night while trying to make weight.

Russell weighed 121 pounds Thursday and was trying to get to the required 119 before the weigh-in. He went running to get the last two pounds off and collapsed after returning to the Olympic Village. Doctors in the building treated him immediately and he did not lose consciousness. He was not hospitalized.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Russell said in a statement released by USA Boxing. "Competing in the Olympic Games has always been one of my dreams, and I wish I would have been able to represent my country alongside my teammates."

His brother, Allan Russell, reached by cellphone, said Russell was devastated.

Russell, 20, qualified for the U.S. team in dramatic fashion at the trials last summer in Houston. After losing his first fight, Russell had to win six straight bouts to earn his place on the team. Last October, he won three fights at the world championships in Chicago to cement his Olympic berth, then fought sluggishly, almost trying to lose as he dropped the fourth. In the spring, he faced Brazil Olympian Robson Conceicao, who had moved up a weight class to fight Russell, in an exhibition in Bridgeport, Conn. Russell pummeled him, 27-8.

Since then, Russell has only sparred. It is, by far, the longest time he has gone without a real fight.

Russell and his father, Gary Russell Sr., have chafed under some of the rules set for by USA Boxing, including the requirement that Russell spend time in Colorado Springs with U.S. coach Dan Campbell and his staff and away from Gary Sr. Russell did not feel challenged by his sparring sessions with the U.S. team in Colorado Springs, preferring to work with Allan, a vicious puncher who can challenge Gary, one of the hardest hitters on the U.S. team.

Russell Sr. has complained for months that his son is not near the shape he was in when he trained in Maryland and blames Campbell for what he calls lax conditioning methods.

A few days ago, Campbell dismissed those concerns and said of the U.S. team: "We're healthy now."

Russell and his brothers learned to fight from their father, who built a makeshift gym in the basement of the family home. The Russells brothers have many titles among them, including Silver and Gold Gloves championships.

The family struggled to find a way to get to Beijing to see Gary Jr. fight. Gary Sr. baked cakes every night and his wife, Lawan, sold them in her office the next day to help raise part of the $20,000 necessary for the trip to China. Donors stepped forward to help the
Russells as well.

Russell Sr. could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

"He's hurt, man," said Allan of his father.