![]() ![]() The lull following the excitement of her triumphant return had ebbed, leaving Saunders, who was now back at the University of Mississippi, facing a downward spiral of depression and anxiety. Two years after returning from Rio to a celebratory parade through her local town, Charleston, Saunders’ mental health hit the skids. Encouraging fans in her quest for a medal by sharing their newly green-hued selves in social media posts is just one of the playful ways Saunders engages with her burgeoning online community. ![]() Nevertheless, the then 25-year-old threw everything at the competition, including more unscientific methods such as utilising social media to urge Team USA supporters to wear green in support of her medal attempt. Unbeknown to her competitors, however, Saunders was nursing an early season hip injury and a tweaked Achilles suffered less than an hour before the Olympic shot-put final on 1 August. “Everything that I’ve been through mental-health wise, injuries, financial,” she said, had paid off, her philosophy of “keep fighting, keep pushing, find value in yourself”, had come good.Īchieving fifth at her debut Games at Rio 2016 as a 21-year-old, Saunders had a medal in mind in Japan – particularly after seeing compatriot Michelle Carter claim the first ever US women’s Olympic gold at the event in Brazil. The playful American, whose dyed green hair represented her self-titled Hulk competiton alter-ego, told the waiting journalists she had put absolutely everything into claiming the longed-for silverware. “Cel-eb-ration time, COME ON,” sang athletics' shot putter Raven Saunders on approaching the mixed zone to talk to the press following her Olympic silver-medal win at Tokyo 2020 (in 2021).
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