LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Caster Semenya wins the 800m title during day 10 of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships 2017 on August 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Roger Sedres/ImageSA/Gallo Images)
Caster Semenya shines in the face of adversity, becomes World Champion, sets new national record
Slay, Queen!
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Caster Semenya wins the 800m title during day 10 of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships 2017 on August 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Roger Sedres/ImageSA/Gallo Images)
Caster Semenya reclaimed her Women’s 800m title in the IAAF World Athletic Championship, posting a world leading time of 1:55:16, ahead of Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba.
This brings South Africa’s medal tally at this year’s championships to six, with three golds, one silver and three bronze medals
Semenya went into the 800m final as the favourite, widely expected to add gold to her 1500m bronze.
But, as usual, the build-up to the final was been dogged with controversy. None more so vile than a rant from Katie Hopkins.
Hopkins put her ignorance on full display, posting Semenya’s wedding photos in an attempt to suggest that her (Semenya) being married to a woman (and not wearing a dress) is proof that she “presents as male” and therefore should not be competing against female athletes.
Having displayed admiration for compatriot, Lynsey Sharp for what she terms as “moral strength” in competing against Semenya, neglecting the fact that there has barely ever been any competition between the two athletes. Nor has Sharp ever provided any real competition even to Caster’s closest competitor.
What has been admirable about Semenya, despite her superb athletic ability, is that she can drown out the noise and brush off any negative comments as shows with her trademark celebration. Even through the extremely intrusive scrutiny on her gender, she has come off as completely unflustered.
In true Caster style, she nonchalantly brushed off the issue in an interview on Supersport last month she said:
“I don’t understand when you say I have an advantage because I am a woman. When I pee, I pee like a woman so I don’t understand when you say I am a man or I have a deep voice.”
Asked during a press conference on Wednesday about possibly taking medication to change her body, she responded by saying:
“I don’t have time for nonsense. Medication no medication. I am an athlete. I don’t have time for such things.”
The debate around advantages of testosterone is infinitely complex. Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, who also has elevated T-levels, did not even make it out of her heats at Rio in 2016. But it is not Semenya’s job to make a call on it.
She is a remarkable athlete and her ability to thrive despite the constant scrutiny, makes her a remarkable human being, too.
