Cape Town - Caster fever has taken hold of South Africa.
At 4pm on Wednesday, offices and malls across the country came to a standstill as people gathered around screens to watch Caster Mokgadi Semenya cruise through 800 metres of track, barely breaking a sweat.
It was only a first round heat, but the excitement of Semenya’s win was explosive. #Caster4Gold trended online throughout the race and for hours afterwards, as praise flooded in for the athlete.
While ecstatic fans were happy to celebrate the win, Semenya seemed all too aware that this was only the first round of three standing between her and the podium.
During the race, she seemed relaxed, only exerting herself to pull ahead slightly at the end. She didn’t even pull her signature Cobra victory move at the finish line - leaving her fans thinking the best is yet to come.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was in Rio watching the race. “And it happened - we watching the first round,” he tweeted from the stadium. “She just cruised in like a champ. Proud moment - more in store.”
The celebration situation in @TheCapeArgus newsroom 😂 @caster800m #Caster4Gold #CasterSemenya @JadeOtto1 @Zoey_dano pic.twitter.com/oKXFzOuUre
— Chelsea Geach (@ChelseaGeach) August 17, 2016
The government was quick off the starting blocks, sending a celebratory message just seconds after the race. “Congratulations to our own @caster800m Semenya who has won her heat and now qualifies for the next round of the 800m!”
The Department of Sport and Recreation also expressed its pride.
“We expected nothing short of excellence from you @caster800m and you did not disappoint us! Well done #TeamCaster.”
The public support for Semenya comes in a more vigilant variety than for any other of our Olympians.
Facing an onslaught of articles in international media dissecting her sex and testosterone levels, South Africans
have closed ranks around the athlete. #HandsOffCaster, fans said on Twitter, daring international publications to challenge her win or her eligibility to compete.
Thank you South Africa... I feel proud to be a South African ..Thanks for the Love and Support.. 💞 I'll make you proud. 🏃🏃🏃
— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) August 17, 2016
“One thing I love about SA is how we all get behind our athletes. Even when the world is tearing them apart #Caster4Gold,” tweeted @Ashelsss.
There can be no doubt that Semenya is watching the messages pour in, and appreciates the tidal wave of love and support landing in her inbox.
Semenya doesn’t often speak to the media, but she speaks directly to her fans via her Facebook account. She posted three messages in the 24 hours leading up to her run on Wednesday.
First, she thanked fans for the overwhelming love delivered care of social media.
“Hello everyone,” she wrote on Tuesday afternoon. “Thank you for the messages. I won’t be able to reply to all the inboxes and wallposts. But do know that your well wishes have been received. Means a lot, I’m overwhelmed by the support.”
Her post was peppered with smiley face emojis, and ended off with a tribute to her Olympic teammates in the form of the hashtag #TeamSArise, and the hashtag she uses for herself - #UnlimitedCobra.
Later, on the eve of her first race at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Semenya posted online, letting her supporters know her exact heat and time of race, as she had promised a few days earlier.
“Stay tuned and spread the word,” she said.
Our girl! One step closer to that gold! Next stop semi-finals! #Caster4Gold #CasterSemenya #IOLYMPICS pic.twitter.com/Xj6EaMwxfi
— IOL News (@IOL) August 17, 2016
Finally, just hours before she hit the track, Semenya posted a message that contained the excitement, anticipation and confidence that seems to have built within her since the London Olympics in 2012 when she won a silver medal.
“After four years,” she wrote. “This is the day the Lord has made.”
Semenya’s semi-final race is on Friday at 2.15am SA time.
Cape Argus