The 2021 Tokyo Olympics: Meet The Black Athletes Seeking Gold

Here are the world's greatest competitors on our watch.

Raven Saunders  - Raven Saunders was a college sophomore when she competed in her first Olympics as a member of Team USA where she came in fifth place. This time around, the 25-year-old, openly LGBTQ+ shot putter is heading back to the Olympics, and this time around she is taking her mental health more seriously. “I’m better now. I still suffer from depression. It’s one of those things that doesn’t go away, but when I look at life and all that I’ve been through, and all that I’ve dealt with, and all that I’ve overcome — when I step into that stadium, I can do anything,” Saunders said in a PBS documentary. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Vashti Cunningham - The 18-year old daughter of retired NFL great, Randall Cunningham, finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 6-foot-5 jump, securing a spot at the Olympics.  Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Allyson Felix - Making her final appearance at the Olympics, nine-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix, 35, will compete in the 400-meters and possibly run in  the women's 4x400 and a new event, a mixed-gender 4x400. The Tokyo Olympic Games will be the first one the athlete will compete as a mother. She gave birth to her daughter Camryn in 2018 and most recently partnered with her sponsor Athleta and the Women's Sports Foundation to create a fund to help cover child care costs for mothers who are athletes. Noah Lyles - Making his Olympic debut, 23-year-old Noah Lyles is a force to be reckoned with. As the current world champion for the 200-meters, Lyles won the race at the June Olympic trials. Ranked one of the top 200-meters sprinters in the world, he marked his fastest time to-date at 19.74 seconds.  According to the Associated Press, Lyles has worn a black fingerless glove in previous races, including the trials to pay homage to Tommie Smith and John Carlos (from their iconic 1968 Black power salute); he would also raise his gloved fist in the air in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Raven Saunders  - Raven Saunders was a college sophomore when she competed in her first Olympics as a member of Team USA where she came in fifth place. This time around, the 25-year-old, openly LGBTQ+ shot putter is heading back to the Olympics, and this time around she is taking her mental health more seriously. “I’m better now. I still suffer from depression. It’s one of those things that doesn’t go away, but when I look at life and all that I’ve been through, and all that I’ve dealt with, and all that I’ve overcome — when I step into that stadium, I can do anything,” Saunders said in a PBS documentary. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

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