Christian Gold Medal Boxer Claressa Shields Deserves to Be on Wheaties Box, Say Thousands in Petition
Claressa Shields should be on the cover of a Wheaties cereal box, according to over 2,000 people petitioning for the Michigan boxing gold medalist to get the opportunity.
The General Mills brand of Wheaties cereal is known as "The Breakfast of Champions" and has featured the likes of Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, and Wayne Gretzky on its box. Since 21-year-old Shields made history at the 2016 Olympics as the first American boxer to win back-to-back gold medals, thousands believe General Mills should consider putting her on Wheaties box.
In a change.org petition signed by 2,263 people at press time, creator Sarah Bedy explained why Shields deserves the honor.
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"We think two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan, would be a perfect choice to be on a box of Wheaties! Claressa has overcome adversity to become a record-breaking champ, and is a role model for athletes everywhere; especially young girls," the letter written to General Mills states.
"As the Detroit Free Press reported, 'after winning the gold in London, Shields did not get the money or fame or endorsements that she expected. She was perceived to be too strong, too tough and too fierce to be marketable and didn't have a strong, experienced team behind her."
Instead of getting rich after striking gold, the letter revealed that the Olympian was struggling with a collection agency over her mother's past-due water bill.
"Yet Claressa persevered and made Olympic history by being the first American to win back-to-back gold medals in boxing," the letter continued, driving the point home. "She has shown the world just how tough she is, and we think she would be a great ambassador for your product."
Outside of the boxing ring, the pugilist has fought to overcome a great deal of adversity. An imprisoned father, poverty and molestation at the tender age of 5 would have left many feeling hopeless. However, Shields overcame anger by finding strength in God.
"When I found God in my life when I was 13, he gave me a stronger mind to handle it. He gave me the strength to bear with everything and he tell me that as long as you stick to you and be a good person, you don't have to worry about that," she said in an interview with Woodtv report. "That's the past. For some people to leave the past behind, it's pretty hard. God gave me the mental strength to just do it."
