GOLDEN girl Caster Semenya disclosed yesterday how she destroyed the world's best athletes to win gold at the world athletics championships in Berlin.
After landing at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to a tumultuous welcome yesterday Semenya said: "I called my coach before the semifinal and the final and he told me that I could do it. In the last 200 metres I killed them and they could not follow, it was cool."
Men's 800m gold medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena might not have enjoyed the same attention Semenya received during their arrival yesterday but they made their mark.
Semenya, seemingly unfazed by the controversy surrounding her, described winning the gold as "pretty cool".
"I feel pretty cool with the gold. For the first time in my life it felt very good to be there running. I did not expect to win, but I'm quite happy. I was under pressure from the Kenyan lady though. I don't know what to say man, It feels good winning a gold medal and bringing it home for the first time in my life. The experience of the world championship, wow, I couldn't believe it."
Semenya had more people waiting to hear what she had to say at Church Square in Pretoria. They demanded to hear her deep voice.
"Thank you for your support," she responded, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd, who chanted "Caster, Caster, Caster!"
Mulaudzi said his sights were now firmly on the 2012 Olympics in London.
"Obviously I am excited to have won the gold. The 2012 Olympics are definitely going to be major, and I would like to go there and hopefully get a gold medal," he said.
Mokoena sympathised with teammates who failed to win any medals.
"All the athletes who represented our country in Berlin tried their best to bring home some medals. We appreciate the support from our country and we know that Athletics South Africa will keep on supporting us. All of us are going to work hard to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics."
how I struckgold for SA!
GOLDEN girl Caster Semenya disclosed yesterday how she destroyed the world's best athletes to win gold at the world athletics championships in Berlin.
After landing at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to a tumultuous welcome yesterday Semenya said: "I called my coach before the semifinal and the final and he told me that I could do it. In the last 200 metres I killed them and they could not follow, it was cool."
Men's 800m gold medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena might not have enjoyed the same attention Semenya received during their arrival yesterday but they made their mark.
Semenya, seemingly unfazed by the controversy surrounding her, described winning the gold as "pretty cool".
"I feel pretty cool with the gold. For the first time in my life it felt very good to be there running. I did not expect to win, but I'm quite happy. I was under pressure from the Kenyan lady though. I don't know what to say man, It feels good winning a gold medal and bringing it home for the first time in my life. The experience of the world championship, wow, I couldn't believe it."
Semenya had more people waiting to hear what she had to say at Church Square in Pretoria. They demanded to hear her deep voice.
"Thank you for your support," she responded, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd, who chanted "Caster, Caster, Caster!"
Mulaudzi said his sights were now firmly on the 2012 Olympics in London.
"Obviously I am excited to have won the gold. The 2012 Olympics are definitely going to be major, and I would like to go there and hopefully get a gold medal," he said.
Mokoena sympathised with teammates who failed to win any medals.
"All the athletes who represented our country in Berlin tried their best to bring home some medals. We appreciate the support from our country and we know that Athletics South Africa will keep on supporting us. All of us are going to work hard to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics."