Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya
OIB
Caster Semenya in 2018
Personal information
NationalitySouth African
Born (1991-01-07) 7 January 1991 (age 33)
Pietersburg, South Africa
Alma materNorth-West University
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Association football career
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–present JVW F.C.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Sport
SportRunning
Event(s)800 metres, 1500 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  South Africa
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 800 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Berlin 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2011 Daegu 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2017 London 800 m
Bronze medal – third place 2017 London 1500 m
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 1500 m
African Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Brazzaville 800 m
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Durban 800 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Durban 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Durban 4x400 m relay
Gold medal – first place 2018 Asaba 400 m
Gold medal – first place 2018 Asaba 800 m
Representing Africa
Continental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Ostrava 800 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Ostrava 400 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Ostrava 4x400 m mixed

Mokgadi Caster Semenya OIB (born 7 January 1991) is a South African middle-distance runner and winner of two Olympic gold medals[4] and three World Championships in the women's 800 metres. She first won gold at the World Championships in 2009 and went on to win at the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships, where she also won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres. After the doping disqualification of Mariya Savinova, she was also awarded gold medals for the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.[5][6][7]

Following Semenya's victory at the 2009 World Championships, she was made to undergo sex testing, and cleared to return to competition the following year.[8][9] The decision to perform sex testing sparked controversy in the sporting world and in Semenya's home country of South Africa. Later reports disclosed that Semenya has the intersex condition 5α-Reductase 2 deficiency and natural testosterone levels in the typical male range.[10][11]

In 2019, new IAAF (World Athletics) rules came into force for athletes like Semenya with certain disorders of sex development (DSDs) requiring medication to suppress testosterone levels in order to participate in 400m, 800m, and 1500m women's events. Semenya refused to undergo the treatment, which is now mandatory.[12] She has filed a series of legal cases to restore her ability to compete in these events without testosterone suppression, arguing that the World Athletics rules are discriminatory.[13]

  1. ^ "Caster Semenya Runs 1:54.25 with No Rabbits to Become 4th Fastest Ever and Destroy World's Best in Paris". LetsRun.com. 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ Written at Berlin. "Semenya clocks 2:30.70 in ISTAF 1000m as Harting takes his final bow". Monaco: IAAF. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. ^ "IAAF Diamond League | Doha (QAT) | 4 May 2018" (PDF). static.sportresult.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Caster Semenya Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Rio Olympics 2016: Caster Semenya wins 800m gold for South Africa". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Caster Semenya awarded gold for 800m at 2012 London Games". eNCA. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Caster Semenya given London 2012 gold medal after rival is stripped of title". The Guardian. 10 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Semenya cleared to return to track immediately". Associated Press. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  9. ^ Kessel, Anna (6 July 2010). "Caster Semenya may return to track this month after IAAF clearance". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  10. ^ Ingle, Sean (18 June 2019). "Caster Semenya accuses IAAF of using her as a 'guinea pig experiment'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Caster Semenya Q&A: Who is she and why is her case important?". BBC Sport. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  12. ^ Hernandez, Erica (6 November 2023). "Caster Semenya says she went through 'hell' due to testosterone limits imposed on female athletes". CNN. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Caster Semenya Opens Up About Discrimination Battle Against World Athletics". 2 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.