Shot-Putter Raven Saunders Defends ‘X’ Gesture, In Honor Of All Who Are Oppressed

“Shout out to all my Black people. Shout out to all my LBGTQ community. Shout out to everybody dealing with mental health," Saunders said.

Shot-putter Raven Saunders, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, defended her decision to raise her arms in an “X” above her head during the medal ceremony, saying she did so in recognition of “all people who are oppressed.” The move was the most open display of protest during the Games thus far, despite a ban on such signs by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, Saunders celebrated her decision, and her win, as a momentous occasion for queer athletes and those who have overcome mental health struggles. “I feel amazing because I know I’m about to inspire so many people,” Saunders told reporters, per NBC News. “I’m about to inspire so many young girls, so many young boys, so many LGBTQ people, so many people that have battled suicide. So many people that have almost given up. Shoot, hopefully, the family of those that actually have lost somebody, man. It’s not, it’s not just about me.”