Raven Saunders’ gesture gets guidance from USOPC athlete issues IOC to acquire medal

Raven Saunders’ gesture gets guidance from USOPC athlete issues IOC to acquire medal

Raven Saunders’ “X” gesture during the shot-set medals ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics “was respectful of her competition and did not violate our guidelines linked to demonstration,” the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said Monday.

The USOPC said it was “in discussion” with the Global Olympic Committee (IOC) and Environment Athletics, which governs the sport, in excess of the gesture. IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters Monday the group was in call with the USOPC above the gesture.

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“As with all delegations, Workforce United states of america is governed by the Olympic Charter and guidelines set forth by the IOC for Tokyo 2020,” the USOPC explained in a assertion, via Reuters.

“For each the USOPC’s delegation conditions, the USOPC done its individual overview and decided that Raven Saunders’ peaceful expression in assist of racial and social justice that took place at the conclusion of the ceremony was respectful of her rivals and did not violate our rules related to demonstration.”

The IOC experienced calm some of its regulations concerning protests and political gestures at the Olympics but still barred demonstrations during medal ceremonies. The USOPC said it would not sanction athletes who demonstrated on the podium.

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Saunders dared the IOC to “attempt and consider this medal.”

“Allow them try and get this medal. I’m managing across the border even though I can’t swim,” she wrote.

During the picture op at her medals ceremony, Saunders stepped off the podium, lifted her arms higher than her head and shaped an “X’ with her wrists. 

“It truly is the intersection of where by all people today who are oppressed meet,” she reported when questioned what her protest intended.

Saunders, who is brazenly gay, has frequently questioned if the Olympics could dwell up to the mission of variety. 

“To be me. To not apologize,” she reported in a large-ranging conversation immediately after her 2nd-area complete. “To display younger people that no make a difference how quite a few containers they consider to healthy you in, you can be you and you can accept it. Persons tried using to inform me not to do tattoos and piercings and all that. But look at me now, and I’m poppin’.”

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Saunders won silver with a mark of 19.79. She concluded just behind China’s Gong Lijao (20.58) and just in advance of New Zealand’s Valerie Adams (19.62).

Fox News’ Emma Colton and the Related Press contributed to this report.

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