Raven Saunders Makes a Statement at Olympic Shot Put Qualifiers
American shot putter Raven Saunders turned heads during the women’s shot put qualification round at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. Saunders, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games, made a bold entrance wearing a full-face black mask, sunglasses, and sporting green and purple hair, complemented by gold grills. “I’m in full form,” Saunders declared, emphasizing their unique style and persona. “I had to remind the people, I am who I am.”
Embracing the “Hulk” Persona
Saunders, who uses they/them pronouns, channels their “Hulk” alter ego to cope with the intense pressures of elite competition. The athlete has drawn parallels between their journey and the Hulk’s struggle to control his immense strength. In a 2021 interview with Yahoo Sports, Saunders explained, “Early on, similar to the Hulk, I had a tough time differentiating between the two; I had a tough time controlling when the Hulk came out or when the Hulk didn’t come out.” Over time, they learned to compartmentalize, allowing the “Hulk” to emerge at the right moments while maintaining mental peace.
Symbolic Gesture and Advocacy
Saunders, who is Black and gay, is also known for their advocacy for LGBTQ rights and mental health awareness. After winning silver in Tokyo, Saunders made headlines by forming an “X” with their wrists on the podium, a gesture they said represented “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched an investigation into the gesture, as podium protests were banned in Tokyo, but Saunders was not penalized.
Journey to the Paris Olympics
The 28-year-old athlete made their Olympic debut in Rio, finishing fifth, before capturing silver in Tokyo. Saunders initially picked up shot put to enhance their basketball skills but eventually chose to focus on track and field. Despite facing setbacks, including an 18-month suspension for missing three doping tests, Saunders returned to compete in Paris after the ban ended in February 2024.
Qualifying for the Final
On Thursday, Raven Saunders secured their spot in Friday’s final with a third attempt throw of 18.62m. Canada’s Sarah Mitton led the qualifiers with a throw of 19.77m, while USA’s double Olympic champion Chase Jackson surprisingly failed to advance after recording two fouls and a subpar throw of 17.60m.
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Overcoming Mental Health Challenges
Raven Saunders has been open about their struggles with mental health leading up to the Paris Games, viewing their participation as a source of inspiration for others. “I honestly said that if I made this team, when I made this team, that it was for the people,” Saunders stated. “It was for the people that reminded me of who I was when I was down, when I was out, when I was suspended.”
What’s Next for Saunders?
As anticipation builds for the final, Saunders hinted at an even more striking outfit. “I have something even better,” they teased, promising to continue making waves both on and off the field.
