Raven Saunders shines light on the ‘oppressed’ in podium statement

American Raven Saunders, who took silver in the shot put final on Sunday, used her time on the Olympic podium to send a message to those watching worldwide.

During the medal ceremony, the 25-year-old shot putter lifted her arms into an “X” position, a symbol she says represents “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”

Raven Saunders launches it with a toss of 19.79m in the women's shot put finals 💥#SeeHerShine | #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/QQLElY5wCZ

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 1, 2021

Following her second-place performance, Saunders told NBC: “I’m not just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for a lot more people.”

"I'm not just fighting for myself, I'm fighting for a lot more people."

🖤 @GiveMe1Shot#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/126C48ySWB

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 1, 2021

“I want to give a shoutout to all the LGBTQ community, everybody that is dealing with mental health issues, everybody that is Black. I’m giving a shoutout to everybody,” Saunders said.

The 25-year-old Olympian from South Carolina has been open about her mental health struggles leading up to the Tokyo Games and has used her platform to encourages others. Saunders made a statement during Sunday’s competition, wearing a red-and-green Hulk mask, sporting purple-and-green hair and ending her TV interview with words of encouragement: “We can do it.”