Raven Saunders, a shot put athlete who identifies with they/them pronouns, garnered attention during the women’s shot put qualification at the Paris Olympics. An attempt to better the silver medal achievement from the Tokyo Games, Saunders donned a black mask covering their entire face, sunglasses, and hair dyed green and purple, matched with gold grills on their teeth.
Saunders expressed their identity with confidence saying, “I had to remind the people, I am who I am.” They also channel an alter-ego, “Hulk,” as a coping strategy to handle the intense pressure of top-tier sport. They related themselves with the Hulk’s struggle to harness his immense power and strength, which they shared with Yahoo Sports in 2021.
They spoke about the complications of learning to control their alter-ego, however through their battles with mental health, they gained the ability to separate their usual self from their hulk-persona and utilise it in dire situations. This not only granted them a sense of mental tranquillity but also enhanced their performance when competing.
Saunders, a 28-year-old gay and Black individual, became accustomed to wearing masks following the Covid directives and has chosen to continue doing so. They believe this aids their concentration by reducing the need for communication with other competitors that could otherwise divert their attention.
When Saunders received their silver medal in Tokyo, they shaped an “X” with their wrists on the podium. They explained that this symbol was a nod towards the crossroads where all the oppressed meet. The expression of this gesture on such a grand platform had the wider aim of advocating for LGBTQ rights and mental health awareness, with a hope that the medal can assist those around the globe who are combating and lack the necessary platform to voice their struggles.
The International Olympic Committee initiated an inquiry into a potentially controversial act performed by an athlete, as it had forbidden any form of protest while on the award stand in Tokyo. Regardless, Saunders wasn’t penalised. A fan of piano playing, Saunders had her first Olympic experience in Rio where she secured the fifth position, before clinching silver in Tokyo. Before she dedicated her energy to athletics in universsity, she was an accomplished basketball player.
Saunders shares that she had ambitions of being a professional basketball player. Shot put was only initially a supplementary skill for her basketball training. Unbeknown to her, it would gradually take on greater importance. Basketball had been part of her life since she was in the third grade and the notion of migrating to Florida with her cousin had crossed her mind until she became more involved in shot put. This provided the motivation for her to stay home and focus on her training.
Secure qualification for the final match on Friday was given to Saunders as her throw of 18.62m on Thursday guaranteed it. At this stage, Sarah Mitton of Canada led the qualifiers with a 19.77m throw.
Saunders was suspended for 18 months due to her failure to show up for three drug tests and consequently missed out on the 2023 world Championships. The ban was lifted in February 2020, making her eligible to participate in Paris.
Riding on the spirit of resilience, Saunders said, “The moment I made it to the team was dedicated to the individuals who reminded me of who I truly am in times of setback, discouragement and suspense.”
Saunders has announced that she has something “even better” for the spectators regarding her choice of attire for Friday’s final.