America’s shot put athlete Raven Saunders has stood out as one of the most unique and stylish competitors at the Paris Olympics, grabbing headlines with her quirky and unusual masks during the shot put events. The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist has sported masks inspired by characters like the Hulk, the Joker, and other bold designs. But what motivates her to wear these masks? Let’s dive into the reasons behind her eye-catching choice.
Who is Raven Saunders?
American track and field athlete Raven “Hulk” Saunders was born on May 15, 1996. She competes in the shot put and discus throw. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she won the silver medal in the shot put with a throw of 19.79 meters. Saunders is also a vocal advocate for mental health, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Saunders often competes wearing a Hulk facemask, earning her the nickname “Hulk.”
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Why Raven Saunders wears mask?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes were required to wear masks at the 2021 Olympics. Since then, Saunders has become accustomed to wearing a mask during competitions.
She revealed that she wears the Hulk mask because she relates to the character, as both have faced tough times, much like she has.
“Early on, similar to the Hulk, I had a tough time differentiating between the two; I had a tough time controlling when the Hulk came out or when the Hulk didn’t come out,” Saunders said on her mask.
“But through my journey, especially dealing with mental health and things like that, I learned how to compartmentalize, the same way that Bruce Banner learned to control the Hulk, learned how to let the Hulk come out during the right moments and that way it also gave him a sign of mental peace. But when the Hulk came out, the Hulk was smashing everything that needed to be smashed.”
