When Claressa Shields became the first American woman to ever win a gold medal in Olympic boxing, she made the entire nation proud. Claressa Shields is a true inspiration. When she stood atop of the podium in London with that gold medal around her neck, her bright smile lit up the entire venue.
Hard work, dedication, and talent. This is how this dynamic young lady from Flint, Michigan rose to the top of the amateur ranks and onto the ultimate prize, the Olympic Gold Medal. Shields isn’t finished. She has her eyes set on the 2016 Olympics where she will be gunning for her second gold medal.
Shields tells 8CountNews that after her 2016 Olympic run, she will then turn pro. She has some intriguing ideas on how to get women fighters more equal pay, and more TV time. I have the feeling that when Shields arrives at the pro ranks, she will bring more than a knockout punch. She’s going to bring intelligence, wit, and drive, all things that will pay off for not only her, but for all women in the sport of boxing.
We also talked about Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. It’s obvious that Shields is not only a fighter, she’s also a student of the sport. She shares some very insightful thoughts about both Mayweather and Pacquiao’s upcoming fights.
Shields also talks about the current 2014 Winter Olympics that are currently underway in Sochi, Russia. Shields offers some good advice for young athletes that are thinking of competing, and going for their Olympic dreams.
Follow Claressa on her Official Twitter @Claressashields
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