Claressa Shields won her second consecutive Gold Medal in Women’s Boxing at the Rio Olympics. She is the first American woman to do so. She has a record of 77 Wins and 1 Loss. While on the podium she brought along her Gold Medal from 2012 because she did not feel she received the respect she deserved for winning 4 years ago.
Claressa Shields is from Flint, MI which as we all know is depressed economically and in many ways psychologically. Shields has had a tough background with an incarcerated parent, alcoholic parent, and overcoming sexual abuse. She will not be returning to Flint, MI post Olympics.
I still love my hometown, and I’m still gonna be involved in my hometown,” she told me, “but I just can’t live there.”
Instead, she said, “Florida will be where I live. Every time I go to Florida, I have this overwhelming feeling that I’m happy every day. I wake up in the morning wanting to train and run at 3, 4 o’clock in the morning, every day. I can get out and do that and be safe doing it.” (Source NPR)
Sadly after the Olympics in London Claressa Shields received no sponsorships or endorsements. Shields isn’t worried about that this time. She thinks the world is ready for strong women.
“They had this weird definition of what a strong woman was. For some reason, that definition was pretty, non-sweaty and not as muscular. And one, I’m very pretty. I think I’m fine! I’m gorgeous!” she told me with a grin.
“But the fact of it is when [I’m] boxing, I look so strong and I’m punching so hard and I’m punching so fast, and [I] make people feel intimidated. I think that now people are starting to embrace that. The definition of a strong woman is Laila Ali, Lucia Rjiker, Serena Williams. Claressa Shields. everybody wants a tough, strong woman in their life!” (Source: NPR)
An Inspiring Trailblazer
Claressa Shields is hoping that her victory will help inspire others who may have lost hope. This is my definition of a TRUE Champion.
“I have been through a lot in my life, “but I want to inspire people, and I want to give people just a little bit of hope. Because I remember when I was one of those kids who didn’t have any hope. And just when I got just a little bit, look how far I’ve been able to come!” (Source NPR)
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