*This summer, at the Olympic Training Center Team USA Boxers meet with the only American boxer in history, male or female, to capture back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Games – Claressa Shields!
As a formidable force in the world of professional combat sports, Shields mentored 2024 Olympian Morelle McCane, with a three-round sparing match in Colorado Springs.
The Michigan native said she never talks during fights.
“I always talk in sparring to get the girls to do more,” explained Shields. “I usually talk more trash than [I did today] but she’s our Olympian. She’s going to the Olympics to represent us, and I am team her. I want her to go to the Olympics in full health, not hurt. I’m a little bit bigger than her so I let her work. I had people do that for me when I was in the Olympics.”
Yes! TEAM HER! We love seeing sisterhood, mentorship and camaraderie.
“Representation is everything. I didn’t know I could be this big, strong, Black, athletic woman until I saw Serena Williams,” exclaimed Shields. “Even though she played tennis, I wanted to be her. A lot of the girls here, want to be me. They want to be better than me. I want to always represent that. Whatever tips they need, if I can give some insight to help them win and be better, I’m honored to do that. There is no hate or jealousy in my blood. The Olympics is USA versus everybody.”
McCane, 29, is headed to her first Olympics after winning three international medals, in 2023, including the Pan American Games silver.
Shields won medals in the women’s middleweight division at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She boasts remarkable success in the ring and beyond – this winter fans will see her story in theaters. The Fire Inside stars Ryan Destiny (as Shields) and Brian Tyree Henry (as coach Jason Crutchfield). The biographical sports film is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and theatrically on December 25, by Amazon MGM Studios through their Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer label.
SYNOPSIS:
The Fire Inside is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Shields, a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield, pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Shields has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun.
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