D.C. Boxer Collapses, Won't Compete in Olympics

Take one name off the list of Olympic athletes with ties to the D.C. area. The Associated Press via ESPN.com is reporting that 20-year-old boxer Gary Russell Jr., who was born right here in D.C. and lives in Capitol Heights, Md., collapsed in Beijing while trying to make weight, and will no longer be competing in the Olympic games.

Russell, who was not hospitalized, collapsed while running. He had been trying to drop from 125 pounds to 119 pounds, and his coach believes Russell had not taken his advice about increasing his fluid intake while trying to drop the weight. Russell will now head home, while the U.S. team is left with just eight remaining boxers.

One thing we hadn't known about Russell: The AP says that he's one of five brothers who are all named Gary Russell. That's got to be confusing. One of them boxes under his middle name, Allan, and another Gary, Gary Russell III, is also a boxer. Apparently Gary Russell Sr., the father of all five boys, fancies himself another George Foreman. Think he has a home kitchen appliance in the works, too?