The mother of US shot putter Raven Saunders, who made a protest gesture during the medal ceremony in Tokyo, has died. The IOC suspended the proceedings against the 25-year-old for the time being.
The mother of US shot putter Raven Saunders, who won the silver medal in Tokyo, has died. The athlete announced this on Wednesday night on social media. “My mom was a great woman, and through me she will live forever,” she wrote on Twitter. She also found words on Instagram: “My heart and soul scream”. She also posted a short video of her mother Clarissa. She is now in a beautiful place. “I will miss your love, your laughter, your hugs, your advice, your amusement, your sudden dances.”
At the same time, the athlete announced that she would withdraw from social media for a while to “take care of her psyche and her family”.
Proceedings against Saunders are suspended
The shot putter from Mississippi won the silver medal in Tokyo at the weekend and formed an X over her head with her arms during the award ceremony – it was supposed to be a symbol against “oppression”, as she announced afterwards. As a result, the International Olympic Committee investigated Saunders because political gestures are prohibited during the competition and the award ceremony. After the mother’s death, IOC spokesman Mark Adams announced that he would stay the trial for the time being and expressed condolences to Saunders and the family.
Saunders is an exceptional athlete who is politically active and open about her mental health problems. She has been nicknamed “Hulk” since childhood, and as an athlete she made it her trademark. So she dyed her hair green for the Olympics and wore a Hulk mask. The name also fits because Saunders often loudly motivates himself in the ring.
Saunders drew attention not only with her gesture, but also when the 25-year-old made her serious mental illness public in early 2020. At the time, she posted the photo of a bracelet in a psychiatric clinic where she was treated for a long time. In an interview shortly before the Olympic Games, she reported on a suicide attempt, which three years ago was the acute reason to seek treatment. “Yes, I was ready to take my life,” she said of the worst moment of her life.
A text message saved her life
But a text message to her former therapist saved her from taking the last step. (…) I literally texted her because I believed she was the only one who understood me. (…) But – thank you, thank you – she answered. “Then Saunders was admitted to the clinic. The diagnosis was: depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms. She overcame her problems with the help of her family and the doctors.
As one of the reasons for her problems, she cites that as a black and lesbian woman in the southern United States there was “a lot of stigmata” and things that had to do with certain things “. Athletics has always been an outlet, but in the end it was not enough. In 2016, Saunders took part in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and finished fifth. The collapse came two years later. There is a reason she speaks frankly about her suicide attempt. She wants to send a message: “I wanted to be the one to say something, possibly to prevent someone from going that route. Or to let someone know, ‘Hey, you’re not alone,'” Saunders says. “My goal is simply to save as many lives as possible.”
Sources: DPA, ,,
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
