Middle-distance
runner and world champion Caster Semenya, 23, made history in 2009 when
she drastically improved her time for the 800-meter race, prompting rumors
about her gender. Born on Jan. 7, 1991 in Limpopo, South Africa, Semenya
has many awards to her name due to her extreme speed and athleticism. These
include a silver medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics and a gold and silver
medal in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. Semenya, 23, has tried to stay
out of the media spotlight. She was the subject of a genetic testing
scandal and earlier this year, was rumored to be engaged to another
female athlete. Semenya lives in South Africa where she balances studies
in sports science at the University of Pretoria with her athletic career.
Here
are 17 things you didn’t know about runner Caster Semenya.
1. Her Father Wanted A Boy
Back in 2009 when Semenya became the focus of media attention, most
people focused on the results of genetic tests. Few people, however, took
the time to think about how she was actually raised. SportingLife talked to her
father, Jacob Semenya, and found out that although he had wanted a boy, he was
proud of his daughter and happy at her birth, saying he supported her
throughout her life.
2. It Was Hard To Train Early On
The Moletije Athletics Club got international attention when Semenya became
famousas it had represented her in her early start. Semenya grew up in a
poor, rural town and despite her rise to fame, her home club still faces
hardship. Late in 2009 when Semenya was already famous, club runners back
home were still running on a dirt road that they couldn’t use during the rainy
season. The club members see her as a national hero, idol, and someone to look
up to.
3. The 800 Meters Isn’t Her Favorite
Most people assume that Semenya’s favorite race is the 800 meters as this is
what she typically runs and how she has won most of her medals. She told the
Guardian, however, that she actually prefers the 1500-meter race. It gives
her the ability to “sit back and relax” during the race, planning her
time, she said. She also is worried about getting injured from running the
800-meter race.
4. No Romance With Violet Raseboya, But
Friendship
Caster Semenya has denied rumors that she and Violet Ledile Raseboya,
another female runner, are engaged. She insists they are best friends. In fact,
she wears a bracelet with the letters “V4C” that Violet gave her.
5. Has Chatted With Kelly Holmes
When Kelly Holmes, another Olympic runner, was in Cape Town, Semenya had the
chance to talk with her. Holmes gave her inspiration and advice to keep running
as she would have plenty of opportunities in the future.
6. Her Idol Is Maria Mutola
Although Caster Semenya has met Kelly Holmes, her idol is Maria Mutola, a
three-time 800-meter world champion. Semenya relates to her because they both
love soccer, with Mutola transitioning to the sport after a running career.
Semenya got her start with the sport when she was young.
7. Getting Ready To Run
Even when other runners were avoiding Semenya in 2009, she didn’t get
nervous before races. Instead, she would just listen to music, relax, and get
in the mood to run. She likes all types of music including hip hop, gospel, and
especially the South African gospel singer Oleseng Shuping, who died in 2010.
8. She Loves South African Food
Despite having traveled the world, Caster Semenya’s favorite food is still
one of the South African classics, mielie pap — a
traditional porridge similar to grits made
from cornmeal and a staple food in Southern Africa.
When she’s in her own country, she eats some variation of it most days.
9. Gender Testing Had Been On A Hiatus
Before Semenya became a news story for gender testing, there had been a
temporary stop in the practice. Gender testing for the
Olympics started back in the 1960s but about a decade previously, the
International Olympic Committee decided not to test anymore due to the
lack of ways to do so. After the controversy over Semenya, however, it had
to reexamine this decision. It was announced after her victory at the 2009
World Championships that she had undergone gender testing. She couldn’t
participate in international competition until July 6, 2010 when the
International Association of Athletics Federations cleared her to return
to competition.
10. She Has Taken Hormone Treatments
After the International Association of Athletics Federation ruled that women
need to be within a certain range of testosterone levels, rumors have abounded
that Semenya is one of the athletes who takes hormones to stay within this
range. This has made her appear more feminine with rounder features.
11. She sued the IAAF
Semenya sued the International Association of Athletics Federation for $120
million for everything they put her through with the gender testing. The IAAF
only handed over $18 million because, allegedly, that was all they could
afford.
12. She trains with Oscar Pistorius
Semenya trains at the University of Pretoria, which is the same place famous
amputee Oscar Pistorius trains. The two run on the same track but when Semenya
arrived at the university, she was not yet a world class runner.
13. She was honored with a great nomination
In 2012 Semenya was nominated for Best Sporting Lady of the year in the
Africa Top Sports Awards. Not the mildest of awards, the program also nominates
the “worsts” of several categories so it can be a toss up if an athlete ends up
in a running.
14. She outran her superiors
In 2009, Semenya beat South Africa’s senior record, as a junior running, by
lowering her personal best from 2:00.58 to 1:56.72. At that time this was one
of the best records in the world.
15. Her physical stats
The runner stands at 5’10” and weighs 160 pounds, according to her official
profile on the 2012 Olympics site.
16. She has asked for financial help
Semenya once started a text message campaign asking her country for money,to
help fund her running. Her message read “I would … like to make a request
to South Africans to support me on various platforms that my team has put
together…and my promise to the nation is that through excellence and resilience
I will strive to live up to the reputation of being known as the Golden Girl.”
17. She’s struggled to find sponsors
Semenya’s gender test
issues have made it hard for her to find official sponsors. Some close to her
have said the runner is basically broke, but she did find a company to sell
t-shirts and other such apparel to raise money for her.
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