U.S. athlete Raven Saunders took silver in the women’s shot put on Saturday. She then used her moment on the Olympic podium to raise her arms into an X. Saunders says the gesture symbolized ‘the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet,’ per the AP.
‘For me, just being who I always aspired to be, to be able to be me and not apologize for it (and) show the younger generation that no matter what they tell you, no matter how many boxes they try to fit you in, you can be you,’ Saunders said later to the media, via CNN.
Saunders is reportedly now being investigated by the IOC over her demonstration.
However, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which is in communication with the IOC regarding it, has leant Saunders its support, calling the gesture ‘respectful of her competitors’ and adding it ‘did not violate our rules related to demonstration.’
In regard to the fallout about her gesture, Saunders joked about it on Twitter on Sunday, saying: ‘Let them try and take this medal. I’m running across the border even though I can’t swim.’

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3 Aug
U.S. gymnast Simone Biles won the bronze medal on the balance beam at the Olympics on Tuesday after returning to competition following a week-long break for her mental health.
It was her last event of the Tokyo Games and potentially her last Olympic appearance ever, unless she continues her career at the 2024 Games in Paris.
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is being criticized after a photo surfaced of her at an indoor wedding reception without a mask, potentially in violation of her own executive mask order.
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Sen. @BernieSanders (I-VT) tried to harness the power of an iconic meme to encourage Americans to get vaccinated.
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