The state of Michigan has been well represented at the 2012 London Olympics, and looking to keep that representation stellar is Claressa Shields of Flint, Mich. Shields is a boxer, and she took on Sweden's Anna Laurell in the women's boxing's middleweight division on Monday and came out on top. Shields won her opening round match 18-14 and will meet Kazakhstan fighter Marina Volnova on Wednesday.
As noted by MLive.com, the opening round was a tough one for Shields, who was facing an opponent who was four inches taller than her and had a wealth of experience in her favor. Shields was bested in the first round, but it looks like her youth played to her advantage as she quickly out-paced Laurell and took the lead heading into round three. Laurell required a standing eight count near the end of the match.
Shields will definitely have a tough test in her next bout against Volnova. The Kazakhstan fighter bested Great Britian's Savannah Marshall in her round one matchup -- and Marshall was the fighter to give Shields her first amateur loss earlier this year at the Women's World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China.
Be sure to stay right here with this StoryStream for more coverage of local athletes at the Summer Games. Also head over to SB Nation's Olympic hub for more coverage from London.