Claressa Shields

Born in Flint, Claressa Shields began boxing at the age of 11. A graduate of Flint’s Northwestern High, as the first member of her family to graduate high school, she has inspired many in Michigan with her story of overcoming adversity to realize historic success.

Shield made history as the first American boxer, male or female, to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. She was the first American woman to win the gold medal in boxing, and the first to win two. She also dominated the World Championships, winning gold in 2014 and 2016, and a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. Her amateur record was 64-1.  

As a professional, Shields is the only female boxer in history to hold all four major world titles in boxing – WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO, in three weight classes, among the 18 World Championships she has held. She has also competed professionally in mixed martial arts.