17-Year-Old Olympic Gold Medal Winner: "I Can't Believe It"
FLINT (WWJ) - Flint native Claressa Shields returned home to a cheering crowd after becoming the first female middleweight gold medalist at the Olympic games in London.
Shields arrived at Flint's Bishop Airport Monday night to an enthusiastic reception of about 500 people.
The waiting crowd cheered, "USA, USA" while they waited to catch a glimpse of the 17-year-old Olympic star.
"We are so proud of her, so we had to come and support her," said Flint teacher Sharon Simmion.
Shields ran off the plane wearing her gold medal and hugged a waiting friend.
"I want to thank everybody for being so supportive ... I'm glad to be home," Shields told the crowd.
"I had this dream since I was 13 or 14 and now it's finally accomplished, I can't believe it," Shields told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.
"After being overwhelmed here - I don't know how school is going to be," Shields said. "I hope it's not like this," she laughed.
Schoolmate Quanisha Prince told WWJ that no one messes with Shields, "When she puts her fists up, they run from her."
