Grace and Grit: Raven Saunders representing Team USA for a third time during Paris Olympics

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The third time may be the charm for Raven Saunders.

The Charleston native and Burke High School graduate will compete in shot put during the Paris Olympics this summer, after finishing second at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials to earn another spot on Team USA.

A moment on the world stage is nothing new for Saunders. The athlete previously competed at the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro and the 2020 Games in Tokyo, earning a silver medal.

News 2’s Carolyn Murray met with Saunders on the athletes ‘field of dreams’ at Stoney Field in downtown Charleston hours before she took off for a chance to grab the gold in Paris. The two talked about discovering the sport Saunders is passionate about and their Olympic journey.

“These are my old stomping grounds and really where this whole entire journey really even started,” Raven said while standing on Stoney Field.

Saunders explained they were first inspired by basketball, but when it came time for scholarships, is was shot put that the Olympian-to-be found opportunity.

“I really started to pour my all into it. It was so unorthodox – I mean, being at the CARTA bus stations and doing drills, being in the middle of class doing drills, walking up and down King Street and Meeting Street just visualizing. The whole layout of it was just perfect.”

To master the sport, Saunders had to learn the sport: “I knew nothing about it. Thankfully, through Coach Herbert Johnson encouraging me to study more and learn more about it I had a chance to then go and do a deep dive into shot put and even track and field as a whole. But no, in the beginning, I didn’t even know what it was.”

The 2014 Burke High School graduate learned fast and set state records.

Saunders went on to throw at Ole Miss before representing the United States on a much larger scale.

“Within the sport, there are so many different personalities, so many different types of people, and I feel like when you look at America, that’s exactly how we are built. That’s exactly the type of people we are. So, for me, it’s just nice to be able to represent my own version of people within the United States, and it’s truly something I take pride in. It’s honestly an honor for me to be able to do this, especially at this level,” the athlete said.

The challenge going into the 2024 Olympic Games: “Doing this one without my mom,” Saunders admitted.

Hours after watching Raven win the silver in Tokyo in 2021, Clarissa Saunders experienced a medical emergency while at a Team USA hospitality event in Florida and passed away.

Clarissa’s image is now tattooed on Saunder’s forearm – mom is always at their side.

“Being able to look down and see her and know that she is always watching over me was my way of always being able to take her with me no matter where it is I went,” the athlete said.

Before competing in large events, Saunders talked about the importance of being mentally and physically strong.

“If your mind is not in it, it’s hard for you to even get to a space to force your body to do it […] I mean earlier this year I probably quit the sport five or six times,” the Olympian said. “Just being able to constantly fight, and fight, and fight, and remembering that I wasn’t even able to get on this stage had it not been for me fighting in the very beginning. So, taking all those old lessons that I learned of perseverance and going through the struggle and doing what it takes and understanding that sometimes even when those moments get really dark, there will be light at some point. But it’s up to you to make sure you find it. Nobody else is going to do it for you, and a lot of people aren’t going to feel sorry for you, so what’s the point of sitting back and complaining the entire time? Do something about it.”

Saunders made news headlines for what happened after earning a silver medal in Tokyo – crossing their arms and forming an “X” on the platform.

Saunders explained that the “X” stood for “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”

“It wasn’t like I went up there protesting anything, I was raising awareness more so. I feel like that level of courage is something not a lot of people have, so I was really proud and happy to be able to be that person,” Saunders said.

Now, as Saunders prepares to compete in Paris, what does the future look like? What will be Saunders’s legacy?

“That’s a question Herbert Johnson has been asking me since high school- how do you want to be remembered? I feel like mine is the ultimate story of the underdog, the comeback kid, the fighter, the survivor, the champion. I feel like that’s what I want my legacy to be. Somebody that wasn’t afraid to challenge the norms and compete at a high level and do it in a fashionable way,” the Olympian said.

The qualifying round for the women’s shot put will be held on August 8 and the final will be on August 9. Chase Jackson and Jaida Ross will join Raven Saunders on Team USA.