Raven "Hulk" Saunders in Tokyo. | Raven Sunaders Instagram
Raven "Hulk" Saunders in Tokyo. | Raven Sunaders Instagram
A Charleston native created a bit of controversy after winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games, and making a forbidden symbolic gesture in protest.
After Raven “Hulk” Saunders won silver in the women’s shot put in Tokyo and stood on the medal podium, she raised her arms to form an “X” above her head. The Olympics prohibits athletes from making outward signs of protest or political statements during competition and awards ceremonies.
Saunders, told the Associated Press the gesture was a sign to “the intersection where all people who are oppressed meet.”
Saunders, who threw the shot 64 feet, 11 inches - slightly behind her personal best of 65-5 ¾ during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June - placed second behind Lijiao Gong of China, whose personal best 67-6 was golden.
State Sen. Marlon Kimpson (D-Charleston) took to Twitter to congratulate Saunders on her athletic achievement.
“Congratulations to Charleston native, Burke High School graduate, Raven Sanders,” he wrote. “We are so proud of her!”
Saunders said her philosophy of “keep fighting, keep pushing (and) find value in yourself” helped her find Olympic glory.
“Everything that I’ve been through mental-health wise, injuries, financial (paid off),” Saunders said.
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