Reason why USA shot putter Raven Saunders wears a full face mask in the Olympics
It's not uncommon for athletes to have their own routines and rituals when it comes to competing. And the same can definitely be said for 2024 Paris Olympics shot putter Raven Saunders.
The American is appearing in their third Olympic Games after debuting in Rio and winning a silver medal in Tokyo.
In the 2020 Games - which were held in 2021 due to Covid - they made headlines during their medal ceremony after raising their arms in an X as a symbol of solidarity with people who were living through oppression of any kind.
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Fast forward three years and Saunders' look has gone viral as the women's shot put event begins today (8 August) in the Stade de France.
It was after they took to the throwing circle wearing a full face mask in jet black, while also sporting reflective sunglasses, green and purple hair, and long acrylic nails in the colour of the American flag.
Saunders goes by 'Hulk', in a comparison to the iconic Marvel character, which also might explain the colour of their hair given Hulk is classically portrayed in green wearing purple shorts.
One social media user referred to them as a super bada**, adding: "Raven is chasing an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games after earning silver in Tokyo.
"A mask and long nails did not disrupt their qualification for the Olympics in June."
Another said: "I'd never heard of Raven Saunders until about 10 minutes, but now I absolutely adore them. The throwing events need more bad a****."
The reason behind Saunders' decision to wear a mask can be traced to their competitiveness and what helps them get in the zone to win. And a lot of that comes down to focus and blocking out everything except their inner positivity.
Speaking to Yahoo Sport in 2021, they said: "I like to be my biggest supporter - I really can't repeat [what I say] because y'all are going to have to bleep out most of the things I say anyway.
"But pretty much to sum it up I'm telling myself - 'You got it, you got it, you're a champion, you have to push, you gotta push, nobody is going to give it to you, you have to work, you have to grind, you gotta get it'.
"Things like that, just a lot of positive affirmations to be able to give myself the power and be able to get done what I need to get done without others interfering)."
Like the Hulk character, Saunders also said they have had a 'tough time differentiating' between who they are in normal life and then in competition.
"I had a tough time controlling when the Hulk came out or when the Hulk didn’t come out," Saunders explained to Yahoo.
"But through my journey, especially dealing with mental health and things like that, I learned how to compartmentalise, the same way that Bruce Banner learned to control the Hulk, learned how to let the Hulk come out during the right moments and that way it also gave him a sign of mental peace," they said.
"But when the Hulk came out, the Hulk was smashing everything that needed to be smashed."
Commentators on the BBC were made to correct themselves, after one referred to Saunders as 'her' when they are non-binary, using the they/them pronouns.
Saunders qualified for the women's shot put which takes place on Friday (9 August) after throwing for 18.62 metres. This was the seventh longest distance, meaning they will have to up their game in final to have a chance of a medal.
Tom Earnshaw