Meet Claressa Shields, the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
Shields, who is only 17 years old, won the gold medal in the middle weight division by beating Russia’s 33-year-old Nadezda Torlopova.
Since returning from the 2012 London Olympics on August 13th, 2012, things have been a whirlwind for Shields.
Everywhere you look, you see her name and face: on telephone poles, billboards, windows, and newspapers.
Whenever Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields enters a room, she’s greeted like a conquering hero, all the while insisting on being treated just like everyone else.
“I’ve just been doing interviews and signing autographs and pictures,” Shields said. “It’s just really crazy but I kind of still don’t believe it. I still really haven’t sat down and said ‘yeah, I’m ranked No. 1 in the world and I’m an Olympic Gold Medalist.’ It just hasn’t hit me.”
Shields started boxing at age 11 after being introduced to the sport by her father, Bo Shields.
Shortly after beginning her amateur career, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Shields immediately excelled, winning two Junior Olympic championships. At her first open tournament, the National Police Athletic League championships in October 2011,
Claressa went on to win middleweight title and qualified for the Olympic trials.(Source)
Watch the video below on Shield’s long journey to gold.
Photo Credit: Getty
