She grew up in poverty, moved around over and over again in her early years ― 11 homes in her first 12 years, by one count.
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Shields ran her Olympics record to 6-0, and she hasn’t lost a fight since London, winning two world championships and a Pan-American Games title over the last four years. “Oh my god, I can’t believe I just said that”, she exclaimed.
Claressa Shields beat Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands by unanimous decision for her second Olympic gold medal on Sunday.
With the medal hers, Shields raised her arms toward her friends and family in the stands after the third round. Late in the fourth round, when it became clear the only way Shields could lose was via knockout, she actually gestured at her opponent several times as if to say, “Why aren’t you attacking me?”
Shields flashed her two golds. She performed a cartwheel in the ring, then took a victory lap with the American flag on her back.
Shields had the American boxing spotlight to herself on Sunday, adding the Val Barker trophy as the best boxer in the tournament to her medal tally. Even within the male-dominated sport of boxing, she didn’t receive the offers she expected to fight professionally and have her bouts air on prominent TV networks.
The final bout of Rio 2016 saw two Super Heavyweight (+91kg) talents going toe-to-toe, with French World Champion Tony Yoka and Britain’s Joe Joyce bringing the competition to a fitting close. Not only was she a 17-year-old Olympic champion overflowing with charisma, she also had a made-for-Hollywood story, a narrative that began with poverty, neglect and sexual violence and ended with a gold medal.
Stevenson’s loss by split decision in Saturday’s gold medal bout shook Shields. And as her punches got heavier and her footwork quicker, it convinced her that she could go as far as hard work would take her. “When I got just a little bit of hope, look how far I’ve come”. You know not everybody can be an Olympic gold medallist.
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The Dutchwoman, 28, had most of the crowd in the 9,000-seat arena on her side – it is a case of supporting anyone but an American or an Argentine for many Brazilians in Rio – and they roared their approval when Fontijn enjoyed some success in the second.
