In Saint-Denis, France, Raven Saunders, the American shot put athlete known for their theatrical style and use of they/them pronouns, made a striking appearance at the Olympics. With a full-faced black mask, bronze sunglasses, and neon green and purple hair styled like the “Hulk,” Saunders brought their unique superhero persona to the competition. Despite a scratch on their first throw, Saunders managed 17.93 meters on the second and 18.62 on the final attempt to qualify for the upcoming final event on Friday.
At the Tokyo Games, Saunders claimed a silver medal and made a powerful statement by crossing their arms and forming an “X” with their wrists during the medal ceremony. The athlete explained that the “X” symbolizes the intersection where all oppressed individuals come together. Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, the 28-year-old excelled in shot put during their college years at Southern Illinois and Ole Miss, securing NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016.
However, Saunders faced a setback when they missed the 2023 world championships due to an 18-month suspension for three “whereabouts failures,” which involved missing drug tests within a year. Despite this hurdle, Saunders has continued to showcase their talent and unique personality on the global stage.
