History-making boxer Claressa Shields competing for gold, cereal
Endorsements have piled up from Powerade and Dicks Sporting Goods, among others. Her documentary is premiering next month. Universal Studios already has the rights to her story.
But 2012 Olympic boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields, the best female middleweight boxer in the world, still has one more goal.
“Hopefully I get on the Wheaties box,” Shields said Friday at the Olympic Training Center. “That’s my ultimate goal as far as endorsements go. Once I win another Olympic gold medal, they should put me on the Wheaties box.”
If her prediction comes true, they’d have to. Shields, who won the middleweight gold medal at 17 years old, is her weight’s top-ranked female in the world entering the Olympics and could be the first American boxer – male or female – to win two Olympic gold medals.
The Wheaties box beckons, but first the Flint, Michigan native has to take care of business in Rio.
“This is probably the right time to get it,” said her coach, Billy Walsh. “She’s mature enough to deal with (the pressure).”
Her 74-1 career record (the lone loss came in 2012 before the Olympics) has built pressure around the world champion. The more Shields wins, the more media outlets want to talk to the first American female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal – The New York Times, ESPN, NBC’s Today Show, and yes, The Gazette.
“It’s out of control,” said Julie Goldsticker, whose role as USA Boxing’s head of public relations has turned into Shields’ personal PR specialist. “I was teasing her because I told her, ‘You’ve been interviewed by the daughter of Muhammad Ali and the daughter of a former president (Jenna Bush Hager) in the last month. How does that feel?'”
But three weeks away from her second Olympic games, she’s trying to look forward. Physically, she’s still trying to work out some weight issues.
Mentally, she’s more than ready. In a June interview with reporter Katie Couric, the boxer had no issue displaying confidence. You don’t get your picture on boxes of cereal by being humble.
“I’m going to win the Olympics,” Shields told Couric. “But I want to knock somebody out.”
“I feel sorry for your opponent,” Couric replied.
Shields lowered her head and smiled.
“Yeah, me too.”
Claressa Shields stretches during an open training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Friday, July 15, 2016. Photo by Ryan Jones, The Gazette.