American Boxer Claressa Shields Scored A Gold Medal But That Did Not Secure He Endorsement; Worried For Future?

Claressa Shields was always destined to become great as at the age of 17, she became the first US woman to ever win a gold medal in boxing at the London Olympics in 2012, and officially became the youngest Olympic boxing champion since 1924. 

Moreover, she successfully defended her gold medals at Rio Olympics in 2016. What does future hold for this boxing champion? What does she say about her future?

Record holder Shields!

Caption: US Boxer Claressa Shields Discusses Rio Gold Medal in 2016.

Olympic champion boxer, Claressa Shields became one and the only boxer of United States to win back to back medals in Olympics. On the podium just after the gold medal was slipped around her neck in Rio Olympics, she reached into her pocket, pulled out her gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics and draped that one over her head, too. She later said:

"People didn't give me my recognition for doing it one time. So I was like, you know what? When I get on the podium, I'm gonna put on both, so people will always remember and never forget that I'm the first American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals in consecutive games.”

In final games of Rio Olympics in 2016, she faced Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands. Shield became victorious after fourth round and history were there in the making. 

Shields' record speaks itself with astounding 77 wins and only one loss. She left Rio with a $25,000 gold medal bonus from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

When Shields went the US from the London Olympics four years ago, although she was a gold medal champion, endorsements didn't follow her path. 

There was no Wheaties box neither was deal with Nike. She was also advised to stop boasting about how she likes to beat people up. She said during that time:

They had this weird definition of what a strong woman was. For some reason, that definition was pretty, non-sweaty and not as muscular. And one, I'm very pretty. I think I'm fine! I'm gorgeous!"

Moreover, she added:

"But the fact of it is, when I'm boxing, I look so strong and I'm punching so hard and I'm punching so fast, and I make people feel intimidated. I think that now people are starting to embrace that. The definition of a strong woman is Laila Ali. Lucia Rijker. Serena Williams. Claressa Shields."

Movie of Shields!

Caption: T - Rex official trailer of boxing movie after Shields, posted on May 24, 2016.

In March of 2016, it was revealed that Universal Pictures acquired the rights to make a movie about Shield’s life. The studio will be collaborating up with Michael De Luca Productions to frame movie based on Shield’s life.

However, this won’t be the first time Shields’ life has been portrayed in a movie as in 2015, a documentary, titled, “T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold,” showed the Shield’s experience as she trained to become the best female boxer of all time. Shields told The Flint Journal:

 “I’m excited and now all I can think is, ‘Who’s going to play me in the movie?’ I think Ice Cube should play (my ex-trainer) Jason (Crutchfield), and KeKe Palmer should play me.”

Shields is only 21 but already has two gold medals in her bag. She is for sure future of US boxing. Moreover, she is also raising voice to bring some gender equity to the world of women's boxing. 

She says that the entertainment value is the same between males and females and that’s the very reason women should get paid as much as the guys.