Paris 2024 Olympics | Who is Raven Saunders? The enigmatic shot putter who competes with a mask

The current Olympic silver medallist in the shot put, Raven Saunders, is making a name for herself at the Paris Olympics, but not for her performances, at least not yet. The American began competing in the Olympics today wearing a striking black mask that covers her entire face.

There are several reasons for this, but it is rooted in the pandemic. During Tokyo 2020, shot putters were required to wear a hygienic mask during the events due to Covid-19. Raven Saunders took silver with a distance of 19.69 metres, behind only China’s Gong Lijiao (20.58 metres).

The mask seems to have brought her some luck, although the reason for wearing it may be different. Saunders found that wearing the facial accessory served as a deterrent to pre-competition conversations, which is not her thing. The American prefers to motivate herself before her attempts.