Masked nonbinary shotputter Raven Saunders, with ‘Hulk’ nails and hair, relishing Paris Olympics ‘spotlight’

Raven Saunders said they felt “special” after qualifying for the shot put final at these Olympics. Few athletes competing in Paris have such a unique style, or can claim to be inspirational in a way that transcends their discipline.

Yet Saunders, who won silver at their second Games in Tokyo three years ago, is an extraordinary competitor and a standout in track and field.

On Thursday morning, the 28-year-old did enough to get through, throwing 18.62m — some way off the qualification standard of 19.15m, but comfortably inside the 12 best performers.

But it was their look that turned heads. Saunders’ facemask designs are familiar by now, but at the Stade de France, they donned an all-black wraparound mask and colorful visor sunglasses.

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It wasn’t quite a balaclava — their short hair, dyed half green and half purple, was visible above the mask. Meanwhile, Saunders’ nails spelled out ‘HULK’ in gold with red, white and blue tips.

Memorably in Tokyo, they made a crossed-arms ‘X’ gesture on the podium to send out a message about intersectionality, having advocated for better understanding of mental health.

Asked by reporters afterwards what message they were sending out this time, Saunders said: “I feel special trying to get the world more in tune and trying to give us and bring us more in our event.

“It is one way to make me stand out and I want to encourage other women — a lot of younger athletes are coming through and they really push their own styles.

“It limits the showcase that we are shot putters, but we have our own style, we can do things as big and bright as any sprinter, any jumper, whoever. So we deserve that spotlight as well.”

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The list of out gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary Olympians will continue to grow.

On social media, the official Paris 2024 account called Saunders’ look “iconic” but there were less appreciative takes.

On the BBC Sport live TV coverage in the U.K., Jazmin Sawyers reminded her co-commentator Steve Backley that Saunders is nonbinary, resulting in some tweets of supposed indignation about their participation in the women’s category.

But no matter. Saunders is focused on the target of returning to the Olympic medal ceremony, having bounced back from an 18-month suspension for missed doping tests that caused them to miss last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Now you see me…

American shot-putter Raven Saunders likes to wear a mask while competing – it's quite a look. #bbcolympics #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/GbwCqyTMOH— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2024

Their personal best is 19.96m, recorded in that Olympic final in Tokyo. Their season best is 19.90m, the seventh furthest throw in the world this year. Saunders put that marker down at U.S. trials in June, showing they can still peak at the right time.

“With everything that I have been through, there is no point for me to not to be in a great headspace,” they added on Thursday.

“When I made this team, it was for those people who reminded me who I was when I was down, when I was out, after I lost my mom, after a hip surgery — this was for them.

“Because they were the ones, when I felt like I wanted to quit, those were the people that encouraged me to keep going, keep pushing and even make it to this moment.”

Canada’s Sarah Mitton, who won silver at Worlds in 2023 and, will be the favorite after throwing 19.77m. Surprisingly, double world champion Chase Jackson — Saunders’ U.S. teammate — is out after only managing 17.60m.

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