Semenya is back at her best
CASTER Semenya was forthright and intimidating in her rare post-meet interview last night: "I will conquer the world again!"
Semenya, who rarely speaks to the media after the ordeal she went through after the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, said: "I know what I can do on the track, and I never doubt my ability as an athlete."
She won the 800m with a world record time of 1:55:45 in Germany at the time.
Last night, Semenya did not only speak to the media - albeit for just a minute - she also competed for the first time in the 400m event that she literally won without breaking sweat.
This was part of the third and final leg of the Yellow Pages Series which now goes into inter- provincial level, starting in Germiston on March 26.
As expected, Semenya was well received by fans, who went berserk when the Limpopo athlete won the event in 54:03 ahead of Namibian Tjipekapora Herunga and Alet van Wyk. Herunga finished second on 54:40 and Van Wyk third on 55:11.
Asked how she felt about competing in the faster event after recovering from a back problem, Semenya said: "I took it easy today as this is part of my technique with my coaches after my back problem. It is really good to start the new race with a win. I'm also happy with my time."
She is expected to return to her specialist 800m at the national championships, and will also return to Europe to prepare for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in August.
It was good that her coach Michael "Sponge" Seeme did not accompany her because it was unlikely that she would have agreed to be interviewed.
Seeme has been speaking on Semenya's behalf since she started competing after the much-vaunted gender debacle.
Meanwhile, also Stephen Mokoka proved that he is simply the best. The Transnet athlete once again shone when he won the 5000m.
Mokoka, who won in 13:28:60, was followed by Galdwin Mzazi (13:30:12) and Kgosi Nzima (13:30:88).
Zintle Xiniwe was another female athlete who gave a good account of herself when she won the 5000m in 15:53:53, in the process beating the revered Phalula twins - Lebo and Lebogang.
Letlotlo
Vaya Semenya Vaya God had a plan for you baby continue to shine and shine and be a good example to our young sistersReport Abuse
CrazyE
You go girl, you go! No one can stand on your way. God opened doors for you, so no one can close. Uqhubekele phambili njalo mtakaSemenya!Report Abuse
ibeliv
@ mabvonyooi usually put maself in other person shoes b4 i judge or laugh or become comedian 2 thier expens.think as a woman 4 a moment,wat if ur child.will u comment dat way?
go Caster GO.ngwana limpopo rebeye mmepeng ngwanwso.100% behind u.Ayobaness.u r bigger than wat people might think.lv u sweetie
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Abbucs
I don't see Caster's dominance in the tracks as something special,it's so obvious because she has that extra hormone/genes that givesthat advantage that the rest of women don't have from voice,body build the rest is history. To my opinion no other woman with normal genes will ever beat her till she's challenged with someone bearing the same genes.Report Abuse
ibeliv
@ abducsbathong UBUNTU.sho o a swabisa ntate.she will neva betean simply cause she is de best n she knws dat n she belivs in herslf
ba o tle ngwana limpopo.u r de best ,unique data y i lv u so much.
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Mabvonyoo
@ibelivBro ar u going 2comment on the article, i guess is dat u've logged in4, nt in ma comment. are we done boy-boy. i say did u get me b******************tch
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ibeliv
@mabvonyoo"she will conquer the world again!" i beliv she will
satisfied
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