Featured Image Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Topics: Olympics, Mental Health, Sport
Joe Yates
An athlete performing at the Paris 2024 Olympics in a mask has caused quite a stir online.
Raven Saunders, of Team USA, has been donning a black mask with a cool pair of reflective sunglasses during this year's Olympic Games.
Saunders, who uses they/them pronouns, looked ice cold as they took center stage during the shot put event - a track and field sport which involves 'putting' a heavy spherical ball, which is called a 'shot', as far as possible.
They have made it to tomorrow's final, but sit as an outsider with the bookies - something they have become all too familiar with.
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It hasn't been an easy journey for the 28-year-old, who has died their hair purple and green and has gold grills over their teeth - mimicking Marvel's Hulk.
Three years ago at Tokyo 2020 - which was played in 2021 due to coronavirus - Saunders took home silver in the sport and opened up to Yahoo Sport about why they wears masks when performing.
While in Japan, they donned a Hulk mask, which showed a large grin covering their teeth and mouth, as well as having their shaven green and purple hair.
Saunders said at the time: "I like to be my biggest supporter — I really can't repeat [what I say] because y'all are going to have to bleep out most of the things I say anyway.
"But pretty much to sum it up I'm telling myself, 'You got it, you got it, you're a champion, you have to push, you gotta push, nobody is going to give it to you, you have to work, you have to grind, you gotta get it.'
"Things like that, just a lot of positive affirmations to be able to give myself the power and be able to get done what I need to get done [without others interfering]."
They have smashed their way into the final of the event having produced a 18.62m throw - which landed them seventh in qualifying and into the final.
But why does Saunders mask-up before taking the stage?
Well, speaking about their own outfit previously, they said: "I'm in full form."
The Hulk alter-ego comes out during competitions to allow them to cope with their stress levels, but also they resonate with the superhero - with them both having taken a difficult path to get to where they are.
"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.
"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."
Well, they've definitely made the sport more entertaining!