Raven Saunders gesture gets USOPC support; Athlete challenges the International Olympic Committee to win the medal

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The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said Monday that Raven Saunders’ “X” gesture during the medal ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics “was respectful of her competitors and did not violate our rules regarding the demonstration.”

The USOPC said it was “in discussion” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and world athletics, which governs the sport, about the gesture. IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters on Monday that the organization had been in contact with the USOPC about the gesture.

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“As with all delegations, Team USA is governed by the Olympic Charter and rules set by the IOC for Tokyo 2020,” the USOPC said in a statement via Reuters.

“In accordance with the terms of the USOPC delegation, the USOPC conducted its own review and determined that Raven Saunders’ peaceful expression in support of racial and social justice that occurred at the conclusion of the ceremony was respectful of its competitors and did not violate our rules regarding the demonstration.”

The International Olympic Committee has relaxed some of its rules regarding protests and political gestures at the Olympics but is still banning demonstrations during medal ceremonies. The USOPC said it would not punish athletes who demonstrated on the podium.

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Saunders dared the IOC to “try to take this medal”.

“Let them try to get this medal. I’m running across the border even though I can’t swim,” she wrote.

While taking pictures at the medal ceremony, Saunders got off the stage, raised her arms over her head and made an “X” with her wrist.

When asked what her protest meant, she said, “It’s an intersection where all the oppressed people meet.”

Saunders, who is openly gay, often wondered if the Olympics could live up to the diversity mission.

“Being me. Not to apologise,” she said in a wide-ranging conversation after taking second place. “To show guys that no matter how many boxes they try to fit you into, you can be you and you can accept that. People tried to tell me not to do tattoos and piercings and all that. But look at me now, I’m poppin.”

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Saunders won the silver with a score of 19.79. She took first place behind China’s Gong Lijao (20.58) and ahead of New Zealand’s Valerie Adams (19.62).

Emma Colton of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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