FLINT, MI (WNEM) -
Another welcome home celebration was held for Flint's Olympic Woman's Boxing gold medal winner Claressa Shields.
The McDonalds on Clio Road was the site for the party celebrating Shield's accomplishment.
"She comes in here and buys her Big Macs, it's the least we could do," said Sam Cox, owner of the McDonalds.
"I want to thank everybody for all the support," Shields said. "You guys are awesome, so thank you."
Shields received proclamations and honor after honor - incredibly humbled, but with a smile on her face and her dream for so long now hanging around her neck.
"It just seemed like I wasn't even going to be able to qualify for the Olympics," Shields said. "When I was able to qualify and then be a top eight girl and just have this ongoing thing and it was like, it was just amazing. "
When you're talking to Shields the one thing you have to remember is that she's only a senior in high school and 17 years old.
The huge responsibility of being a role model is something that she say's she's ready, willing and able to take on.
"This one man told me this one quote that I will never forget. He said 'I will, I can and I must succeed,'" Shields said. "No matter what I did I was going to do my best at it. Since I'm the inspiration, I'm just going to try and give them the best advice I can. "
Supporters think that letting kids know how Shields achieved the goal might be the spark to turn Flint's youth around.
"When she began to pass on the ideas how she made her accomplishment, then other children can catch on," said Shields supporter Dorothy Waldon. "Maybe not in sports or in boxing, but it could be in academics."
Congratulations again to our gold medal winner, Claressa Shields.
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Claressa Shields
