Raven Saunders’s Iconic Mask at Paris 2024

Imagine competing in the global Olympics—just to compete but make a statement at the same time. That is exactly what Team USA shot putter Raven Saunders is doing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Known for their striking fashion choices, Saunders has turned heads with their unique style, including a very distinctive face mask. There is more to this choice than just the sake of a fashion statement.

Photo byBo ZhangonUnsplash

Raven Saunders Mask and Its Message

On August 8, Raven Saunders made a bold appearance with a thick black mask to cover her face that seemed perfect with the orange-tinted sunglasses. Her overall look is pulled together—sharp. It’s not just about looking cool; it’s deeper than that. For Saunders, style is self-expression and empowerment.

Now, the choice of mask by Saunders is an interesting story. The inspiration is taken from the comic-book character Hulk. Bruce Banner is the name of the man behind the Hulk—a reserved physicist who turns into a green monster every time he gets angry. Well, Saunders relates this to how their mental health journey has been, reaching that inner strength. Just like the Hulk, Saunders found a way to harness that energy and focus at the right times.

A Symbol of Control and Strength

To Saunders though, the mask represents so much more than just clothing. To him, it stands for control and strength. Talking about it he explained the entire process and stated, “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.” This mask helps them stay focused and channel their energy positively, much like the Hulk channels his power.

The habit of wearing masks was also due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Saunders found that in some ways, masks helped him feel centered, keeping him away from distractions, a practice he has continued even past the pandemic. It’s a personal strategy that helps him stay in the zone and perform at his best.

Raven Saunders Not Alone in the Mask Trend

Surprisingly, Saunders will not be the first athlete to have competed wearing a mask. French football captain Kylian Mbappé also wore a mask throughout the action-packed EURO 2024 to prevent potential injury to his nose. This trend reveals there are practical functions assigned to masks apart from their tradition of reinforcing protection that prevents injury and even keeping focus.

Competing in a mask at the Paris Olympics is a powerful means through which Raven Saunders exemplifies just one more way that style can be used to express identity and overcome adversity in athletics. There’s so much more to each Olympic performance than what is revealed on the field. Saunders didn’t want a competition out of the mask, but acceptance of herself and turning what could have been a personal struggle into strength. Saunders’ decision represents how athletes merge identity with purpose. That in itself is a powerful statement across the global stage.

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This article was written by Faria Malik