When Caster Semenya, the 25-year-old 800-metre phenomenon, takes on the world on Wednesday afternoon in Brazil, it will not be without tension and controversy.
In the lead up to Rio 2016, Semenya's competitors attempted to cast doubt on the fairness of the South African competing. This, despite the medical go-ahead for Semenya to compete, clearing her of hormonal levels that would give her an upper hand in her races.
More recently - on Tuesday - men's online magazine Sports Illustrated, best known for it's calendar of bikini-clad female models, again raised the topic of the fairness of Semenya competing. In light of this and the obvious kick back by South Africans who would not let the SI article circulate unchallenged (see #HandsOffCaster), poet Jackie Mondi's praise piece for Semenya comes at just the right time - and appropriately before the athlete hits the track and goes for gold.
Here it is, published here on IOL moments after the official release by Semenya - who approved the poem herself - on her social media feeds:
Caster is Mokgadi
Did you know that Mokgadi means girl among boys?
Did you know that Mokgadi is her birth name?
Her name is Mokgadi, the girl child
Caster is Mokgadi
But, because you can't run faster than she can
And you are whiter than she is
And you are smaller than she is
And you are weaker than she is
You say she is not a woman?
She is Mokgadi, the girl child
And, because she runs faster than you
And she is darker than you
And she is bigger than you
And she is stronger than you
We say she is a human being.
We call her Mokgadi, the girl child
So, now that you know it is not up to you
And your little checklist
Watch as she runs
And tick the right boxes
Strong, tick
Fast, tick
African, tick
Woman, tick
Champion, tick
Finally, say it with me
Caster is Mokgadi
- by Jackie Mondi
IOL