Huge 'Welcome Home' Bash Wednesday for PG County Olympic Hero Gary Antuanne Russell

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD — Gary Antuanne Russell did Prince George's County proud at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The 20-year-old Capitol Heights native fell just short of medaling in Rio, falling to eventual gold medal winner Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of Uzbekistan in a close match in the Round of 8, but he also won his first two bouts in the light welterweight category. Now, the community is throwing him a big party in his home town on Wednesday.

The party will take place at Dave and Busters at 1851 Ritchie Station Court in Capitol Heights at 7 p.m. Aug. 23. Russell will be there, as well as Capitol Heights Mayor Marnitta L. King, Russell's parents and his three boxing brothers.

Russell fought hard against the eventual light welterweight champ in Rio, but lost by a 2-1 split decision despite dominating the final round and looking like he may have done enough to advance, which would have guaranteed him at least a bronze. But the judges awarded the fight to Gaibnazarov, who would go on to win the gold medal.

Russell opened the tournament with a dominant win over Richardson Hitchins from Haiti, getting a unanimous decision from the judges. His second round bout was much closer against Thailand's Wuttichai Masuk, but he took that fight in a 2-1 split decision.