Two-time Olympic Champion Claressa Shields to serve as mentor on The Next Olympic Hopeful The United States Olympic Committee announced yesterday that two-time Olympic champion Claressa Shields will serve as one of two mentors to the 90 finalist invited to participate in the final phase of “Milk Life presents, Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful,” which will be held July 27-31 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
The program – which is also supported by USOC partner 24 Hour Fitness – aims to increase and enhance the pipeline of world-class athletes pursuing Olympic sport opportunities in the United States.
Shields, who is the only Team USA boxer, male or female, to win two Olympic gold medals, will return to Colorado Springs to help motivate and encourage this year’s finalists, as well as provide insight and tips into the sport of boxing, during the final testing.
“I am excited to work with all the athletes during the Next Olympic Hopeful testing, as I know how hard it was for me to make it to the Olympics, not only once, but twice,” stated Shields. “I never got to meet an Olympian before my first Games to tell me what it would be like, so I am looking forward to meeting all the finalist and hopefully providing a bit of insight into the sport to help these elite athletes reach the next step.
This marks the second year for the Next Olympic Hopeful contest, and the first year USA Boxing will be involved. Following the tryout, eight winners will be invited to join national team camps – one for each of the participating sports (bobsled, boxing, canoe/kayak, cycling, rowing, rugby, skeleton and weightlifting). The four men and four women winners will be eligible to receive financial, medical and training support as they prepare for the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games.
“USA Boxing is looking forward to this opportunity of being part of the Next Olympic Hopeful campaign with the United States Olympic Committee,” stated Matt Johnson, USA Boxing High Performance Director.
“We are hoping to use this as a way to add talent to the USA Boxing pipeline and having Claressa be part of the process is the perfect situation,” he continued. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table as USA Boxing’s only two-time Olympic Champion.”
Nearly 3,500 athletes applied online, many of whom participated in either an in-person tryout hosted exclusively by 24 Hour Fitness or a regional tryout. The 90-member roster features 42 male and 48 female participants, representing 27 states. The in-person tryouts hosted by 24 Hour Fitness clubs around the country yielded 24 athletes earning a ticket to the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the finalist phase of “Milk Life presents, Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful.”