2006年VOA标准英语-US Olympic Boxing Gold Hopeful Prefers to Train

By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
29 May 2006
 
watch Olympic Boxer¹ report
 
  
  
Gary Russell Junior stands 1.6 meters tall, and weighs about 53 kilograms.  That doesn't sound physically² imposing³.  But in the boxing ring, Russell is an intimidating⁴ force. He's the top-rated amateur fighter in his weight division in the U.S. and third in the world.  Some experts believe Russell Junior is the U.S.A.'s best hope for winning a boxing gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. 

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Gary 'Little Gary' Russell Jr.  
  

The red brick house in suburban⁵ Maryland does not appear to be a likely setting for the training of an Olympic athlete.  But in the spartan⁶ basement of this family home, 17-year-old Gary Russell Junior follows a tough training regimen in his quest for Olympic gold.

Tough, but not solitary⁷.  Every day, under the watchful⁸ eye of his father, Gary Russell Senior, and his coaches, Gary Junior works out with his younger brothers.

The young man known as "Little Gary" to his family explains why he prefers training here rather than a gym. "It's like down here, I'm around just my family.  I'm around my little brother, that's boxing.  I'm around my dad, and around my other coaches.  And it's a lot easier for me to stay focused and it's that one-on-one type training."

More than just a pastime, boxing is a family ritual.  Little Gary and three of his brothers -- Antonio, Antuane (antwon) and Allan, have been boxing since the age of seven.

Gary Russell, Sr   
  
A former boxer, Gary Russell Senior trains his sons to be well-rounded fighters. "We have a saying, 'a diamond shines from all different sides.'  So we try to keep them shining from every aspect of boxing."

The Russells' garage is full of trophies⁹ and medals -- testimony¹⁰ to the father's coaching skills and his children's' talents. One of the coaches is Robert Martin.  

Robert Martin   
  
He says Russell Senior is different from other trainers. "Most coaches are satisfied with your throwing punches.  They don't care how you throw them.  He [Russell, Sr.] wants you to throw them precise."

Little Gary says of his father, "He's [Russell, Sr.] been around me.  He knows what I'm capable of doing and what I'm not capable of doing.  A lot of these other coaches -- they see me.  They see what I do in the ring and stuff.  But they never really had that one-on-one training with me, stuff like that."

Usually, either the father or Martin will accompany Gary Junior to his bouts¹¹.  They see what others do not.

Martin says it’s the little things that really count. "It's the little things that make him [Russell, Jr.] as good as he is.  A lot of people can't see the little things.  A little shift of the foot, a little shift of the shoulder.  And most people can't really see that."

Training and fighting are ways to keep children away from street gangs, but not all of them can escape the violence of the street. 

Devaun Drayton, Little Gary's half-brother, was killed in March 2004 in a schoolyard fight over a gun.  Devaun was also a boxer, and a good one. His father recalls, "I had four [sons] who box, all of them have different styles.  Devaun by far, had the prettiest feet.  He was fast.  His timing¹² was good.  He was really a good kid."

Little Gary says losing his brother still hurts him. "It hurt.  I couldn't even ride around a certain neighborhood without thinking about my brother."

Although still in high school, Gary Junior has already known his share of glory and personal loss.  His experiences have made him even more focused on winning.

"A lot of guys, when I win, like, a major tournament, it seems like, everyone's more happy for me than I am.  And they like, 'Why you not so happy?'  I'm like, well, I work so hard at the gym, I really expect to win."

Little Gary next visits Argentina to fight in the Pan Am games, where he will see some of the fighters he could be facing in the 2008 Olympics.

He expects to make the Olympic team -- and to win.

1 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

2 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

3 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

4 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

5 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

6 spartan   

adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人

参考例句：

• Their spartan lifestyle prohibits a fridge or a phone.他们不使用冰箱和电话，过着简朴的生活。
• The rooms were spartan and undecorated.房间没有装饰，极为简陋。

7 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

8 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

9 trophies   

n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖

参考例句：

• His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

11 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

12 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。