Beautifully defiant Caster Semenya has brushed off the unwanted attention from the glare of the international media to focus purely on her running.
Nothing would rattle the Olympic silver medallist as she ignored journalists with microphones held out in anticipation of a reaction, any kind of response to her runs in the heats and the semi-final.
Semenya walked past the mixed zone fixed in conversation with South Africa’s media attaché giving the odd acknowledging nod to a familiar face among the gaggle of journalists.
While she has largely operated under a veil of silence, she would send answer to three questions at a time behind the scenes.
The cold shoulder did not extend to her supporters on her various social media platforms where she had been posting words of encouragement to her fellow athletes, and thanking the fans for their support.
Semenya easily dealt with her heats before she cantered through to the women’s 800m final winning her semi-final in a time of one minute, 58.15 seconds (1:58.15).
After her semi-final run Semenya took to Twitter to thank her supporters posting: “Thank you South Africa... I feel proud to be a South African ..Thanks for the Love and Support.. I'll make you proud. Point of correction THANK YOU AFRICA MUCH LOVE.”
On the same evening of Semenya’s race, South African javelin queen Sunette Viljoen won the silver medal at her fourth Olympic Games with a best heave of 64.96m.
Semenya congratulated her teammate afterwards showing her support for the Viljoen on the social media platform.
“Well done my friend so proud of you.. Enjoy your night.. God bless you..”.
A month before the Olympics, Semenya produced the race of her life breaking her seven-year-old record by 0.12 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
She clocked 1:55.33 which is the 12th fastest time women’s 800m history, and the best since 2008.
The South African women’s 800m record-holder has been caught up in the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling that testing on female athletes taking testosterone suppressants be suspended.
The CAS made the ruling regarding hyperandrogenism, the presence of high levels testosterone levels, in July 2015 a year ago when Indian sprinter Dutee Chand appealed her suspension from competition.
It ruled the IAAF needed to provide scientific evidence that enhanced testosterone levels translated into improved performances in hyperandrogenic athletes.
South Africans from all walks of life have been rallying behind Semenya, sparked by comments British marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe made in a interview with BBC Radio.
#Handsoffcaster has been trending as people share their support for Semenya ahead of Sunday night’s much-anticipated final.
Independent Media