Caster Semenya remains a beacon of hope for future women's athletes in South Africa and the world over
Caster Semenya’s (centre) recent court victory against World Athletics’ testosterone-lowering regulations has been celebrated as a significant milestone in her ongoing fight against discrimination, inspiring future athletes and highlighting her lasting impact on South African sports. Picture: Frederick Florin/AFP
Image: Frederick Florin/AFP
Following Caster Semenya’s court win last month, which ruled that the athlete did not have a fair trial on whether she should have to lower her testosterone levels, it has been seen as something of a milestone achievement.
Semenya’s career was effectively cut short in 2018, once she was required to take testosterone-lowering medication to be eligible to compete.
Since then, Semenya has fought the World Athletics ruling and gone to various courts to plead her case.
Semenya had also hoped the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would rule that she had been the victim of discrimination in one of her legal tactics, but was unsuccessful.
Semenya’s Ongoing Battle Against Discrimination: A Noble Fight for Justice
At 34, Semenya’s best years are already long gone, but her mission to prove her unfair treatment will carry on for years to come.
Three-time SA Olympian Hendrick Mokganyetsi believes Semenya’s fight is a noble one.
“I’ve been part of this case since it started in 2009 in Berlin when I was the team manager. I went through all sorts of things where she was humiliated by many people, including some of the athletes who did not understand,” Mokganyetsi told SportsBoom.com.
“It’s a very difficult situation that she went through, that she had to cut her career short because of discrimination and regulations that have been put in place by World Athletics. It’s affected her opportunity to show her God-given talent to the world and show the world that a young girl from South Africa, from the dusty streets of Limpopo, can put the country on the map.”
The emergence of Prudence Sekgodiso as the heir to Semenya’s throne is no coincidence, believed Mokganyetsi.
"If you look at what Prudence Sekgodiso did at the World Indoors, returning home in South Africa with a gold medal while hailing from the same area and place where Caster is coming from in Limpopo, it's a reflection of the impact that Caster has had in that region and around the country.”