US Olympian Gwen Berry raises a fist in protest as IOC relaxes rules on free speech

These Olympic Games are never far from the hint of a gesture or protest, a moment of free speech, an opportunity to make a statement.

So it came as absolutely no surprise that U.S. hammer thrower Gwen Berry entered the Olympic Stadium Tuesday night by raising her right fist not once but twice, several seconds apart, to announce that she of all people would be taking advantage of the International Olympic Committee’s relaxed rules allowing freedom of speech prior to the start of play.

“It was the same thing,” she said of her gesture after finishing well off the podium and out of the medals in 11th place out of 12 competitors, “social injustice, racial injustice, I’m just here to represent. I know a lot of people like me, a lot of athletes like me, a lot of people are scared to succeed, a lot of people scared to speak out. So as long as I can represent those people, I’m fine.”