I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title, but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned.
‘My folks named me Mokgadi Caster. I was given this name for a reason. So you haven’t seen nothing,” said Caster Semenya.
The middle-distance runner has been through it all. She has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Through it all Semenya has remained an inspiration for all people who the world has told something is wrong with them.
Semenya is a star on and off the field. On the field she regularly breaks records and to list all of her achievements and records so far would be a very long list. Semenya has also proven she can conquer the academic world. In 2018, she got her degree in sports science from North-West University.
She is also a supporter of menstrual health for young girls. Along with Shamila Ramjawan, the founder of marketing company Famram Solutions and who launched her own menstrual cup, Semenya is working to address the issue of girls who miss school because they are having their periods. Semenya has attract corporate sponsorship and has used donate menstrual cups to girls in rural areas.
On the field Semenya is unstoppable. That’s may be the International Association of Athletics Federations has tried to force her to lower her testosterone levels. She is a multiple Olympian winner. Some of the medals she has collected includes gold in the 800m at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro respectively. She won gold in the 800m at the 2009, 2011, and 2017 World Championships. The 800m was Semenya’s race.
Ever since being the 800m champion in 2009 at the age of 18, she has had to face discrimination but through it all she has held her head up high and focused on breaking records.
The IAAF announced that certain women athletes, including Semenya, would be required to take testosterone-reducing medication. This means she can’t defend her 800m title. But Semenya says she will continue fighting.
“I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title, but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned.”
— Fatima Moosa
Twitter: @caster800m