It was refreshing to read Allison Stapp’s article on Olympic boxer Clarissa Shields (“For US boxer, two golds but no green”).
Before reading this article I was unaware that Clarissa was from Flint, Michigan where the town has been polluted with toxic water for its citizens’ use.
After winning the first Olympic gold-medal at 17 years of age in London, endorsements never came for Clarissa.
Despite all of her hardships Clarissa trained again yet for another Olympic Games!
Victorious again she won her second gold-medal at 21 in the recent games in Rio this year!
It’s unfortunate that the media is more concerned with how she had been raped and abused versus how she was victorious over rape and abuse and still became a international hero with hopes of taking care of her family from the endorsements that she will earn because of her gold metal.
It was really cool to hear about a 21-year-old who wants to use their income to help get back to their hometown and empower other young people just like her.
Hats off to Allison Stapp for such an awesome article I can’t wait to read some more of her work. Clarissa has inspired more than a nation!
Aisha Jordan
Psychology