NY Times · Aug 2, 2021
Olympics officials are still negotiating a response to a U.S. podium protest.
Raven Saunders, left, made a gesture “for oppressed people” after accepting her silver medal in the shot-put on Sunday.Credit...Francisco Seco/Associated PressThe standoff over free speech between the International Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic officials continued on Tuesday, as the I.O.C. grappled with what to do if the Americans refused to penalize an athlete for violating rules limiting demonstrations on the medal podium.
On Sunday night, Raven Saunders, a U.S. shot putter, delivered the first political demonstration on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics when she raised her arms and crossed them in the shape of an X shortly after receiving her silver medal.