Raven Saunders, who won a silver medal in the shot put, raised her arms and formed an X above her head, potentially becoming the first athlete at the Tokyo Olympics to openly defy new rules against protests at the podium.
U.S. Olympic officials are on a possible collision course with the International Olympic Committee Monday after the organization said it did not believe Team USA shot put silver medallist Raven Saunders broke rules against protests on the podium, raising questions over what will happen if American officials—who have stated they will not punish athletes for protesting—are instructed to sanction Saunders. The IOC has not stipulated how athletes breaking its protest rules will be punished. Its rules and views are in conflict with those of the USOPC and the USOPC is required to mete out any punishment, if issued. The USOPC has stated it will not sanction athletes demonstrating at the Tokyo Games. Saunders said she formed the X above her head to represent “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.” The silver medallist, who is Black, gay and outspoken about her struggles with her mental health, challenged officials to “try and take this medal.
