Who is Tamyra Mensah-Stock's mother? Olympian fulfills mom's long-held dream with $250K gift
Team USA wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock has fulfilled the promise she made after bagging the gold medal at the Olympics. "She's getting a food truck," Mensah-Stock said in interviews after winning on August 3, and in a matter of days, she is making good on that promise which she initially made five years ago when her mother was cooking and selling BBQ out of a pit on two wheels. Mensah-Stock was approximately awarded $37,500 for winning gold, paid out by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee with which she planned to buy the truck for her mother.
"She's always doing back-breaking work and ... I've just seen her struggling ever since my dad died and I don't like seeing it," Mensah-Stock had said at the time. Her mom single-handedly raised her after her father's tragic death in a car accident while she was still in high school. "I made a promise to her and she loves cooking," Mensah-Stock explained the food truck plans. "It's just one of her passions. Growing up, we'd be like, 'Ooh, mommy, you put your back into this food. Like you literally put your foot in it'" she added.
Speaking of Olympians and their relationship with their parents, Simone Biles birth mother Shanon Biles backed her daughter while the rest of the world criticized her for backing out of certain events in Tokyo citing mental health issues. Pole Vaulter Katie Nageottemade headlines after she was photographed tapping the inner spike of her shoe with the word 'Dad' written on it. She lost her dad in 2007 to a heart attack and since then she has always honored him this way.
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Who is Tamyrah Mensah-Stock's mother?
Tamyrah Mensah-Stock's mother Shonda Wells has always been a positive and supportive presence in her life. The Olympian who became the first Black woman to win a wrestling gold at the games has never shied away publicly showing some love to her mom. "Shonda wells is my mother and she has been the strongest woman that I have ever known in my life. I've been so blessed to have her as a mother. Through hard times and good times she has been by my side and I thank God she has been in my life.
Patrice is the next picture and she my aunt sister of my mother. Without this woman I might not have been able to keep my sanity, i might not be alive honestly. She has been such a rock in the most unstable times, and a light from heaven in the darkest hours, no joke. I'm so dang freaking grateful to have this woman in my life, both of these woman have been a huge blessing in my life, and I have only God to thank!!!" Mensah-Stock wrote in a 2019 post.
Mensah-Stock acknowledged her mother selling BBQ off a portable grill "is not exactly the best legal method." She recounted, "So how about I buy you a food truck and you can be anywhere you want to be?" She said, "[My mom] was ecstatic. She's like, 'Yes, I would love that.' This is five years ago. And I just keep telling her, 'Just hold off, mommy, please just hold off.' " Mensah-Stock and Wells have already come up with a name for the truck and have decided on 'The Lady Bug'. She added, "It is going to be pleasant. It's going to be legal. It's going to be fun."
Mensah-Stock's gift to her mom is pay back for all the sacrifices she had to make while raising her to be a star she is today. "I just wanted to help my mom's dream come true like she's helped mine come true," she said. The Olympian had plans to use $30K from her medal earnings to fund her mom's food truck but turns out she will be able to keep the money while securing her mom's gift at the same time. Cruising Kitchens - one of the largest manufacturers of mobile assets - owned by Cameron Davies will design, build, and donate a $250,000 truck for Mensah-Stock's mom. "It's time for you to take care of her, because she's been taking care of you," Davies said to Mensah-Stock. "Oh my God, I can't believe it," Wells said fighting back tears. "Thank you so much. This is a dream come true," she added.