The mother of silver medalist shot putter Raven Saunders died suddenly Tuesday, just days after watching her daughter take second place in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, USA Today reports.
Clarissa Saunders was attending a watch party with her other daughter, Tanzania, for the families of US Olympic athletes in Orlando when she died. The cause of death and the circumstances of her death were not provided.
“My mama was a great woman and will forever live through me,” Raven posted on Twitter. “My number one guardian angel … I will always and forever love you.”
Twenty-five year old Raven Saunders took the national spotlight after she took second spot in the women’s shot put over the weekend. After the national anthem of the Gold Medal winner finished playing, Saunders made an “x” with her arms above her head, saying later she did so to show support for the LGBTQ, intersex and non-binary people around the world. This prompted noted social commentator Lara Trump to claim she was glad that Saunders didn’t win the gold.