Tokyo Olympic Silver Medalist Raven Saunders Wins USATF 2021 Humanitarian Award
This year at the USA Track & Field Night of Legends during its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, the 2021 Humanitarian Award went to Olympic Silver medalist Raven “Hulk” Saunders. Saunders was honored with the award this year because, according to the USATF site, “As a mental health and social justice advocate, Raven used her platform prior to and after the Olympic Games to speak openly about her struggles with mental health to bring awareness to the issues affecting her and “all oppressed people.” Raven is an advocate for social change and gave a respectful sign on the medal stand by crossing her arms above her head noting that “it’s the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”
She has brought awareness to suicide, depression, and as an openly gay woman, who has contemplated suicide and seen poverty and depression ravage her Black community and others like it, she has brought awareness to these issues.
A two-time Olympian, Raven Saunders has been widely covered during and after her Tokyo Olympics Silver medal appearance and has taken her message far and wide having appeared in segments with Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg during their Olympic interview series, NBC, CNN, BBC, PBS, Out Media, Raynbow Affair Magazine and most recently in a segment of On Her Turf. So powerful and timely was her action on the podium, after the official Olympic medal ceremony had concluded, Saunders garnered over 1 billion impressions on social media making her one of the most talked-about sports personalities in modern times and a hero in the multiple communities of which she is a member and proudly represents.
😂 Literally everything “they” hate. Big (forgot to suck the gut), black, gay, and a woman. Seriously though I love looking like the next @Marvel Lesbian Captain America defending the world from the clutches of mental abuse and oppression 🤣 #Embracetheintersection #lgbt #rainbow pic.twitter.com/eK2wWCpTs1
— Raven HULK Saunders (@GiveMe1Shot) November 9, 2021
About USATF
Based in Indianapolis, USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running, and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world’s oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the number one high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
Mission Statement
USA Track & Field drives competitive excellence and popular engagement in our sport in a safe environment for all.
Featured Image: Olympian Raven Saunders with USATF 2021 Humanitarian Award (Photo courtesy of USATF)
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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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