Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields, an Olympic gold medalist and professional boxer, and her parents have put their troubled past behind them and now stand by each other as constant supporters.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields was born on March 17, 1995, in Flint, Michigan, to parents Marcella Adams and Clarence “Bobo” Shields.
Furthermore, Claressa Shields faced a difficult childhood; her father, Clarence, was in prison, and her mother, Marcella, abused substances.
Claressa Shields’ father, Clarence “Bobo” Shields, was put behind bars for a breaking-and-entering conviction when she was two years old, and was only released after serving seven years behind bars when Claressa was nine years old.
In her father’s absence, Claressa Shields and her family faced poverty and several troubles.
For years, Claressa Shields was abused by her mother Marcella’s then-boyfriend.
Likewise, in an interview, Claressa Shields stated that in her teenage years, she didn’t have a good relationship with her mother, Marcella, when she was nine till she was 15 or 16.
She also stated that her mother’s then-boyfriend r*ped her when she was just five years old.
Instead of taking action, Claressa’s mother sent her to stay with her grandmother until she was 10, which made her angry for years before she talked to her mother about her thoughts, which positively changed things between mother and daughter.
Despite A Troubled Past, Claressa Shields Found Forgiveness For Her Mother, Marcella
During an interview, Claressa Shields revealed that she lacked the courage to talk to her mother, Marcella, about her feelings regarding her abandonment.
She expressed a desire to ask her mother why she chose not to send her abusive boyfriend to prison, fearing that the conversation would upset her.
“I didn’t want my mom to feel like I was still angry at her, but in a way. I was. I just told Jason, “I don’t want to upset my mom. I don’t want to show that I’m upset at her about something that happened so many years ago. and put the blame on her.”
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However, after her boxing coach, Jason, encouraged her to talk to her mother, Marcella, things changed.
Her mother explained that it wasn’t that she didn’t believe her, but that she couldn’t believe the man she loved could hurt her daughter.
At the time, her mom, who was still a teenager, was still in love with him and sent Claressa to live with her grandmother to keep her safe because the man was threatening Claressa and accusing her of lying.
Furthermore, once her mother finally left the man for good, Claressa returned to live with her and her siblings.
Claressa said she forgave her mom for not protecting her more and for the feelings of abandonment she had.
That honest conversation changed their relationship, bringing them closer and allowing Claressa to see her mother as a loving woman who made mistakes, not a terrible person.
Her mother apologized for the pain she caused and was open and real about what happened, explaining how she did protect Claressa once she found out.
She said she no longer feels pain about the trauma itself, but the pain she once had came from feeling like her mother didn’t believe or protect her. Knowing her mom didn’t abandon her took away much of that pain and helped her heal.
Her father Was The Driving Force Behind Claressa Shields’ Interest In Boxing
After Claressa Shields reunited with her father, Clarence, at the age of 9, she became fascinated by his dreams of becoming a boxer.
Moreover, her father, Clarence, was an amateur boxer from Flint, Michigan. Although he never went pro, his passion for sport remained strong even after his boxing dreams were cut short due to a seven-year prison sentence he served while Claressa was just a toddler.
As the father-daughter relationship began to develop, Clarence shared his regrets with his daughter, telling her that if he had followed his passion for boxing, his life might have turned out differently.
Despite serving his time, he struggled to find work as a convicted felon and felt as though society continued to punish him.
Similarly, hearing her father speak so openly about his lost dream inspired her to pursue boxing herself, not just for her, but to honor the path her father never got to walk.
She decided that if she ever did something big in life, it would be in boxing, so he could live part of his dream through her.
Likewise, at just 11 years old, Claressa stepped into the boxing gym at Flint’s Berston Field House and began her journey.
While her father initially hesitated, telling her boxing was a man’s sport and she was too pretty to do it, Claressa continued with encouragement from her grandmother and under the mentorship of coach Jason Crutchfield.
What started as a tribute to her father’s passion became Claressa’s calling, and she went on to achieve greatness in the sport he once loved.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Claressa Shields is an ambassador for Up2Us Sports, a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved youth.
- She is in a relationship with Brooklyn rapper Papoose.
