Olympic dream ends for local boxer

Russell, his father/trainer Gary Russell Sr. and his mother Lawan Russell remained in Beijing early this week and were not available for comment. But two local trainers who are close to the Russell family have spoken with them. Floyd Seymour of Clinton-based Box Wo Boxing and John White of Keystone Boxing in Temple Hills have aided in Russell's training process over the past several years.

White just returned from Kansas City, where he was chaperoning Russell's younger brothers, Allan and Antonio, while they competed at last week's Ringside World Championships.

Seymour and White say the Russells are devastated.

"The family was crazy hurt," said Seymour, who was a member of the Bahamas' 1992 Olympic boxing team. "He tried so hard to make the team. Everything happens for a reason, though."

According to published reports, Russell went on a nighttime run in an attempt to shed a little more than a pound, just a few hours before the team left for its morning weigh-in on Friday. When Russell returned from the run, he had a short workout before returning to his room to rest. While he was in the room, he collapsed. His roommate, U.S. boxer Luis Yanez, was present and called for help.

Doctors determined Russell was suffering a form of dehydration, and he regained consciousness after being given water and snacks. Russell rested for a little while before noticing that the team bus had left for the weigh-in without him.

"He's numb, so to speak," White said Monday of his conversations with Russell. "It couldn't happen to a better fighter or person. This area got deprived of a chance to be recognized. Everybody has got their own take on this. It didn't break him down, he knows his capabilities. I just told him you gotta take the lesson out of this because it happened for a reason."

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.