Raven Saunders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Raven Saunders

Saunders on the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1996-05-15) May 15, 1996 (age 29) Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Height	5 ft 5 in
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics (track and field)
Event(s)	Shot put Discus
College team	Southern Illinois University Salukis, Ole Miss Rebels
Turned pro	2018
Coached by	Herbert Johnson (2011–2014) Connie Price-Smith (2015–2017)
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking	3rd (shot put, 2018)
Personal best(s)	Shot put: 19.96 m (65 ft 5.70177166 in) (2021) Discus: 56.85 m (186 ft 6.06397638 in) (2016) Hammer: 57.97 m (190 ft 2.15846457 in) (2016)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 2020 Tokyo Shot put World Junior Championships Silver 2014 Eugene Shot Put Pan American Junior Championships Gold 2015 Edmonton Shot Put NACAC U23 Championships Gold 2016 San Salvador Shot Put Representing Americas Continental Cup Silver 2018 Ostrava Shot Put
Updated on July 12, 2025.

Raven Saunders (born May 15, 1996) is an American track and field athlete who is famous for competing in the shot put. They are sometimes known by the nickname "Hulk." Saunders has represented the United States at the Summer Olympics in 2016, 2021, and 2024.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were held in 2021, they won a silver medal. While in college at Southern Illinois University and the University of Mississippi, Saunders was a star athlete. They won four NCAA college championships in shot put. They also won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 2014 and a gold medal at the Pan American Junior Championships in 2015.

Early Life and School

Raven Saunders was born on May 15, 1996, in Charleston, South Carolina. They have a younger sister named Tanzania. Saunders graduated from Burke High School in 2014, where they were a top track and field athlete.

After high school, Saunders went to Southern Illinois University. Later, they transferred to the University of Mississippi to compete for the Ole Miss Rebels track team.

Athletic Career

High School Star

Saunders began throwing the shot put and discus in the ninth grade. Their coach, Herbert Johnson, was a very important mentor for them.

In 2014, during their senior year of high school, Saunders broke the national high school record for the indoor shot put. A month later, they broke the outdoor record too. Because of these amazing achievements, they were named the Gatorade Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

That same year, Saunders won the US Junior Championships. This win allowed them to compete at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Oregon. They won the silver medal there. To get to the competition, which was far from their home, Saunders raised money online.

College Champion

In 2015, Saunders started their college career at Southern Illinois University. They immediately became a champion, winning both the indoor and outdoor NCAA shot put titles. The NCAA is the main organization for college sports in the U.S.

Saunders was the first American junior athlete to throw the shot put more than 18 meters. They also won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, setting a new record for the event.

First Olympics in Rio

In 2016, Saunders transferred to the University of Mississippi. They continued to win, breaking a 23-year-old NCAA championship record with a throw of 19.33 meters.

That summer, Saunders qualified for their first Olympic team. They competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They finished in a strong 5th place.

Turning Professional

In 2018, Saunders decided to become a professional athlete. This meant they would compete for money and sponsorships instead of for a college. They signed a deal with Nike and continued to compete at a high level.

Unfortunately, Saunders had to deal with some injuries. They had surgery on their elbow in 2018 and on their hip in 2019. After recovering, they were ready to compete again in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic canceled most of the season.

Silver Medal in Tokyo

Saunders came back stronger than ever in 2021. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, they threw a personal best of 19.96 meters to make the team for the Tokyo Olympics.

On August 1, 2021, Saunders won the silver medal in the shot put event in Tokyo. On the podium, they raised their arms and crossed their wrists to form an "X." They later said this was a symbol for "the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) looked into the gesture to see if it broke any rules. However, the United States Olympic Committee supported Saunders, calling it a "peaceful expression." A few days later, the IOC stopped its investigation after the sad news that Saunders' mother had passed away.

Recent Years

After another hip surgery in late 2021, Saunders returned to competition in 2022. In March 2023, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) gave Saunders a temporary suspension. This was because they missed reporting their location for surprise check-ins, which is a rule for elite athletes.

Saunders took responsibility and said they would use the time to focus on their mental health and training. They returned to competition in 2024.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Saunders qualified for the shot put final. They finished in 11th place.

Personal Life

Saunders has spoken openly about their personal challenges and has become an advocate for mental health awareness. They also work to support racial justice.

Competition History

All results are from World Athletics.

International Competitions

Representing the  United States

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Result	Notes
2014	World Junior Championships	Eugene, Oregon	2nd	Shot put	16.63 m (54 ft 6.59940945 in)	N/A
2015	Pan American Junior Championships	Edmonton, Canada	1st	Shot put	18.27 m (59 ft 11.16633859 in)	CR
2016	NACAC U23 Championships	San Salvador, El Salvador	1st	Shot put	18.49 m (60 ft 7.82775591 in)	N/A
	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	5th	Shot put	19.35 m (63 ft 5.68602363 in)	SB
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	10th	Shot put	17.86 m (58 ft 7.02460630 in)	N/A
2018	Continental Cup	Ostrava, Czech Republic	2nd	Shot put	19.74 m (64 ft 9.04035433 in)	SB
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	2nd	Shot put	19.79 m (64 ft 11.00885827 in)	N/A
2024	Olympic Games	Paris, France	11th	Shot put	17.79 m (58 ft 4.26870079 in)	N/A

National Competitions

NCAA Competitions

See also

In Spanish: Raven Saunders para niños