He excels at hockey, athletics, cricket and rugby.
In the past, he could have continued at a high level in all the sports.
But in the modern era he will need to specialise to excel at international level.
At the moment, hockey is his favourite sport.
This is natural because the skilled midfielder has been selected in Otago teams - under-16, under-18 and under-21 - for three national tournaments this year.
He was in the New Zealand under-16 team last year.
He spends five hours each week training for hockey.
"I'm concentrating on hockey at the moment. Mum wouldn't let me play rugby this year."
Russell (16), a year 11 pupil at Otago Boys High School, gets his inspiration from three fellow members of the Otago Boys High School First XI - Nick Ross, Blair Tarrent and Hugo Inglis - who are members of the Junior Black Sticks squad.
Russell does athletics in his spare time.
It develops the speed and fitness he uses in other sports.
He proved his ability at the New Zealand secondary schools athletics championships at Wanganui last December.
He won the junior boys' javelin title and was a member of the school's winning 4 x 100m relay team.
His favourite Olympian at Beijing was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
Russell is a member of the OBHS second cricket XI.
When he was a pupil at Balmacewen Intermediate, he averaged 450 in the Milo Cup with a best score of 172 not out.
His favourite sportsman is Australian batting star Michael Hussey.
What is Russell's secret?
"I don't have any," he said.
"I enjoy sport and just go out and play."
