Masked shot putter Raven Saunders, who took a stance on Tokyo podium, qualifies for Paris final
Who was that masked person?
It was Raven Saunders, of course — the theatrical American shot put standout who uses the pronouns they and them and brings their own distinctive style to every athletics meet they attend.
Saunders qualified for the Olympic final on Thursday night (AEST), wearing a full-faced black mask and gold-hued sunglasses. Their hair was dyed neon green on one side and purple on the other.
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Saunders qualified for the Olympic final while wearing a full-faced black mask and gold-hued sunglasses. Patrick Smith via Getty Images
Saunders had gold grills covering their upper and lower teeth, along with long fingernails on their left hand that were bedazzled and in Team USA colours with the letters H-U-L-K.
This is Saunders' alter ego once the shot put starts flying. Turning into “The Hulk" helps them feel like a superhero getting ready to hurl that hunk of metal.
“I’m in full form,” Saunders said of their costume.
“I had to remind the people, I am who I am.”
And that's a threat to add another medal to the silver they took in Tokyo. And a mental health advocate. And a role model. And a reminder to the world that the Olympics are a bridge that can reach well beyond sports.
“It is one way to make me stand out and encourage other women,” Saunders said of their shot-put persona.
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“A lot of younger athletes are coming through and they really push their own styles.”
After scratching on their first throw, they recorded 17.93 metres on their second and 18.62 on their final to ensure their spot in the final. As usual, it will be as interesting to see what Saunders wears as how far they throw.
Raven Saunders contests the women's shot put qualification. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
“I have something even better,” they said of what's in store for the final.
At the medals ceremony in Tokyo, Saunders crossed their arms and formed an “X” with their wrists. Saunders explained the “X” stood for “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet".
The 28-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina missed the 2023 world championships when they were suspended for 18 months because of three “whereabouts failures” — missing drug tests — within 12 months.
It was all part of a dark time for Saunders, whose mom died unexpectedly just after the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games and also went through hip surgery.
There was serious consideration for walking away from the sport.
“I’m in full form,” Saunders said of their costume. Getty
“No matter how dark it gets, no matter how tough — there will be light,” Saunders said.
“Those dark moments, those dark days, I dragged myself out of bed and dragged myself to the weight room, tears in my eyes, begging, ‘When is this going to be over?’ I just kept fighting every single day. It felt like for months on end, and finally, I had a breakthrough. That’s the power of resilience and persistence and trust and faith.”
Saunders has not shied away from discussing their mental health battles. If that message seeps through to others, it's great with them.
“I honestly said that If I made this team, when I made this team, that it was for the people,” Saunders said.
“It was for the people that reminded me of who I was when I was down, when I was out, when I was suspended.”
