The athlete has been plagued by a nearly constant debate over whether or not she should be allowed to compete in the woman's 800m since she burst onto the scene winning gold at the 2009 World Championships.
In the immediate aftermath of her victory, it was announced the athlete would be subjected to gender testing, a decision that outraged the South African government, who accused the IAAF of racism.
The athlete herself is keen to highlight that she is a human being first - and an athlete second.
Semenya, who has been subject to a strict media ban while in Rio said: "I am not a fake. I am natural. I am just being Caster.
"I don't want to be someone I don't want to be. I don't want to be someone people want me to be. I just want to be me. I was born like this. I don't want any changes."
Whatever is written or said about Semenya, she has been cleared to compete at the Rio Games and, as the fastest woman over 800 metres this year, is the clear favourite to take gold, with many tipping her to break the world record.
The athlete herself is committed to keep running, even if banned from competing with women due to her naturally high levels of testosterone.
The runner said: "Running is what I will always do.
"Even if, maybe, the authorities could have stopped me from running in 2009, they could not have stopped me in the fields. I would have carried on with my running, it doesn't matter. When I run I feel free, my mind is free."
Semenya has a very real shot of claiming the 800-metre gold in Rio. Whether or not she gets to keep that medal and remain running competitively, only time and the Court for the Arbitration of Sport will tell.
The competition she will be facing up to in Rio will include Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who currently sits in second on the IAAF Dimaond League standings for the women's 800 metres. She won the Birmingham meeting in June in Semenya's absence.
The United Sates will be pinning their hopes on World Indoor Championships 2016 silver medalist Ajee Wilson.
#HandsOffCaster‚ SA fans warn as Semenya kicks off Rio campaign
“Not on our watch — #HandsOffCaster‚” warned Anna Sanfilippo ?@Scumezza as heats in the 800m – the event Caster Semeya is widely tipped to win – were set to start in Rio on Wednesday.
Some South African Twitter users got a bit heated as Semenya kicked off her Olympic campaign against a backdrop of questions again being raised about the her gender.
Paseka Mlangeni @PasekaMlangeni had strong words for Semenya’s detractors: “Becuz sh is a girl child‚ n shs stronga than‚ u n shs faster than u‚ n u critic her bt truth is U ain her! Bt sh is Mokgadi #Caster4Gold”.
Phuti Joel Manamela @MalomeJuza advised Semenya to ignore the naysayers: “Let them complain while you do what you do best #Caster4Gold”.
Cash @Caswell–Phasha seemed a bit confused about the profusion of hastags used in wishing her well: “#Caster4Gold This hashtag was supposed to be #Mokgadi4Gold.”
(Mokgadi is the athlete’s first name.)
To be sure‚ SandilePhill @MsandroPhill simply tweeted variants of the hashtags in support: “#casterismokgadi #Caster4Gold #casterismokgadi #casterismokgadi #Caster4Gold #CasterSemenyaDay”.
Audrey Mothupi @AudreyMothupi summed up his support simply: “#Caster4Gold #CasterSemenya #SouthAfrica loves you unconditionally #Rio2016”.
Semenya became embroiled in a controversy when the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) subjected her to a sex verification test following her gold medal at the world Championships in Berlin in 2009.
The IAAF claimed at the time that it was not testing her for suspected cheating‚ but in an attempt to determine whether she had a medical condition that caused irregular hormone levels which would give her an unfair competitive advantage over competitors.
#HandsOffCaster‚ fans warn as Semenya kicks off Rio campaign
The athlete has been plagued by a nearly constant debate over whether or not she should be allowed to compete in the woman's 800m since she burst onto the scene winning gold at the 2009 World Championships.
In the immediate aftermath of her victory, it was announced the athlete would be subjected to gender testing, a decision that outraged the South African government, who accused the IAAF of racism.
The athlete herself is keen to highlight that she is a human being first - and an athlete second.
Semenya, who has been subject to a strict media ban while in Rio said: "I am not a fake. I am natural. I am just being Caster.
"I don't want to be someone I don't want to be. I don't want to be someone people want me to be. I just want to be me. I was born like this. I don't want any changes."
Whatever is written or said about Semenya, she has been cleared to compete at the Rio Games and, as the fastest woman over 800 metres this year, is the clear favourite to take gold, with many tipping her to break the world record.
The athlete herself is committed to keep running, even if banned from competing with women due to her naturally high levels of testosterone.
The runner said: "Running is what I will always do.
"Even if, maybe, the authorities could have stopped me from running in 2009, they could not have stopped me in the fields. I would have carried on with my running, it doesn't matter. When I run I feel free, my mind is free."
Semenya has a very real shot of claiming the 800-metre gold in Rio. Whether or not she gets to keep that medal and remain running competitively, only time and the Court for the Arbitration of Sport will tell.
The competition she will be facing up to in Rio will include Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who currently sits in second on the IAAF Dimaond League standings for the women's 800 metres. She won the Birmingham meeting in June in Semenya's absence.
The United Sates will be pinning their hopes on World Indoor Championships 2016 silver medalist Ajee Wilson.
#HandsOffCaster‚ SA fans warn as Semenya kicks off Rio campaign
“Not on our watch — #HandsOffCaster‚” warned Anna Sanfilippo ?@Scumezza as heats in the 800m – the event Caster Semeya is widely tipped to win – were set to start in Rio on Wednesday.
Some South African Twitter users got a bit heated as Semenya kicked off her Olympic campaign against a backdrop of questions again being raised about the her gender.
Paseka Mlangeni @PasekaMlangeni had strong words for Semenya’s detractors: “Becuz sh is a girl child‚ n shs stronga than‚ u n shs faster than u‚ n u critic her bt truth is U ain her! Bt sh is Mokgadi #Caster4Gold”.
Phuti Joel Manamela @MalomeJuza advised Semenya to ignore the naysayers: “Let them complain while you do what you do best #Caster4Gold”.
Cash @Caswell–Phasha seemed a bit confused about the profusion of hastags used in wishing her well: “#Caster4Gold This hashtag was supposed to be #Mokgadi4Gold.”
(Mokgadi is the athlete’s first name.)
To be sure‚ SandilePhill @MsandroPhill simply tweeted variants of the hashtags in support: “#casterismokgadi #Caster4Gold #casterismokgadi #casterismokgadi #Caster4Gold #CasterSemenyaDay”.
Audrey Mothupi @AudreyMothupi summed up his support simply: “#Caster4Gold #CasterSemenya #SouthAfrica loves you unconditionally #Rio2016”.
Semenya became embroiled in a controversy when the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) subjected her to a sex verification test following her gold medal at the world Championships in Berlin in 2009.
The IAAF claimed at the time that it was not testing her for suspected cheating‚ but in an attempt to determine whether she had a medical condition that caused irregular hormone levels which would give her an unfair competitive advantage over competitors.
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