The Olympic medalist who made a symbol of protest with her arms during a medaling ceremony didn\u2019t break any rules according to US officials \u2014 \u2026<\/b>
\nThe Olympic medalist who made a symbol of protest with her arms during a medaling ceremony didn\u2019t break any rules according to US officials \u2014 but she could still face punishment from the International Olympic Committee. Star shot putter Raven Saunders said the \u201cX\u201d formation she made overhead Sunday after winning the silver medal was meant to honor oppressed people \u201call over the world\u201d and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Monday it didn\u2019t break any rules. \u201cAs with all delegations, Team USA is governed by the Olympic Charter and rules set forth by the IOC for Tokyo 2020,\u201d the USOPC said in a statement. \u201cPer the USOPC\u2019s delegation terms, the USOPC conducted its own review and determined that Raven Saunders\u2019 peaceful expression in support of racial and social justice that happened at the conclusion of the ceremony was respectful of her competitors and did not violate our rules related to demonstration.\u201d The USOPC noted Saunders performed the demonstration during a brief window on the podium typically reserved for photographs that came after the athletes received their medals and the playing of the Chinese national anthem for gold medalist Gong Lijiao. The group said they are in touch with World Athletics, track and field\u2019s international federation, and the IOC, which told USA Today in an email they are \u201clooking into\u201d the USOPC\u2019s statement. \u201cWe are not surprisingly looking into the matter, and will consider our next steps. We need to fully establish what\u2019s going on and then take a decision from there,\u201d IOC chief spokesperson Mark Adams said. The IOC has long banned forms of protests during the Games and while they did relax the rules last month to allow demonstrations on the field as long as they aren\u2019t disruptive or disrespectful to fellow competitors, they\u2019re still not allowed on the podium during medaling ceremonies. Saunders could still face sanctions for the protest because it was done on the podium and appeared to reference the threat in a tweet late Sunday. \u201cLet them try and take this medal. I\u2019m running across the border even though I can\u2019t swim,\u201d she wrote with a laughing emoji. The Charleston, South Carolina native has previously suffered from mental health issues and following her Sunday win, said she hopes she can continue to inspire others. \u201cFor everything I\u2019ve been through mental health-wise, injuries, you know, everything like that\u2026 being able to really invest everything I\u2019ve had mentally and physically and to be able to walk away with a medal, and be able to go out here and really inspire so many people\u2026 I really just hope that I can continue to inspire and motivate,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n