Hailing from Flint, Mich., Shields had a tough upbringing and grew up in poverty, all the while her father was in prison until she was 9 years old. When Dad returned home, they reconnected and he told her that if he had stuck to what he was passionate about, which was boxing, he wouldn’t have ended up in prison. Shields first stepped into the ring at 11 years old and found solace in the sport, helping her overcome seemingly insurmountable childhood challenges.

Shields’ dedication led to her first Olympic appearance where, at only 17, she took home the gold medal. Four years later, sh...