Capitol Heights Man Wins Again at Rio 2016 Olympics, Will Advance

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD — Prince George's County's own Gary Antuanne Russell won for a second time at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Sunday, defeating Thai boxer Wuttichai Masuk in his quest to bring home gold for the USA in the light welterweight category, and he is now just two matches away from the gold medal match.

Russell, who hails from Capitol Heights, Md., has advanced to the Round of 8 in the light welterweight tournament in the Olympics. In an even, hard-fought fight, the 20-year-old Russell emerged the victor over his 26-year-old veteran opponent by a score of 29-28 in the Aug. 14 match. He won the first round of the fight by unanimous decision, but the second round went unanimously to Masuk to even things up. However, in the third round Russell eked out a split-decision win to emerge the victor.

Despite the close result, Russell seemed pretty confident by the end of the match, even sticking his tongue out with a smile on his face and pointing his boxing gloves in the air in the dwindling seconds of the third round while staring across at Masuk. When the bell sounded, the judges agreed, and Russell will move on.

Russell has already accomplished a lot, becoming the first from his family of boxers to win an Olympic match after he dispatched Haiti's Richardson Hitchins in the first round on Aug. 10.

Russell, 20, is competing in his first Olympics. His older brother, Gary Russell Jr., was named to the 2008 squad in Beijing, but he never won a match. Two of his older brothers are also award-winning boxers.

Image via TeamUSA.org