By Jo-Ann Barnas, Detroit Free Press
The enthusiasm in her voice gave it away. They were the words that Claressa Shields’ longtime boxing trainer, Jason Crutchfield, had been waiting to hear all week: “Coach! I made the Olympics! I made the Olympics!”
Shields, the 17-year-old junior at Flint Northwestern High School, called her trainer Friday morning from the AIBA women’s world championships in Qinhuangdao, China, to let him know that she had earned one of the continental Americas’ berths to the 2012 London Games, where women’s boxing will make its debut in three weight classes this summer. He said the news was confirmed with a follow-up call from a representative from USA Boxing.
Shields earned her spot into the Games when England’s Savannah Marshall — who defeated Shields in the second round earlier this week — won her semifinal match Friday and advanced to the finals of the middleweight division.
4 Comments
I love this story! How inspiring to see one of our first women boxers in the Olympics be so young and a Black woman at that! I bet her family is so proud. Win for us, Jo-Ann!
I agree. Claressa Shields is a phenomenal young lady with a bright future. Her father inspired her to box… Her grandmother helped her believe that girls can succeed in sports… I’m sure they are proud. We look forward to following Claressa in London as she makes history!
Wow! Simply amazing. Great reporting ,interesting story. Hadn’t heard it anywhere else. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Kareem for the support! Claressa’s story is very inspiring, and Team Fenom looks forward to following her in London.