By: The Associated Press (AP)
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Claressa Shields' hometown of Flint, Mich., has been celebrating this week after the teen boxing sensation punched her way to an Olympic gold medal.

Mayor Dayne Walling and City Councilman Bryant Nolden invited city residents to a local bar to watch the 17-year-old's gold medal match against Nadezda Torlopova of Russia. Shields won the middleweight bout 19-12

Shields' father, Clarence, was among the about 200 people who attended the free viewing event in downtown Flint. He took to a knee to pray after watching his daughter receive her medal.

The mayor said "the atmosphere was electric" as people watched a young product of the struggling community's schools and youth sports programs reach the peak of her craft.

— David N. Goodman — Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidngoodman

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Athletes

Claressa Shields