Caster Semenya
As the World Track and Field Championships continue today in Berlin, Germany, the main topic of conversation isn't about who is the fastest runner. Instead the media and spectators are buzzing over whether or not one of the top female competitors is actually a man.
The athlete in question is Caster Semenya, an 18-year-old runner from South Africa. She is the favorite to win today's 800m race. Semenya has captured the track world's attention by rapidly lowering her time in the 800 meters. She enters the race with the fastest qualifying time.
Media from Australia and Great Britain have been fanning the flames of accusation by running numerous stories about Semenya's gender. Semenya and the South African contingent have denied rumors that she was born a male.
"She is a female," said Molatelo Malehopo of Athletics South Africa. "We are completely sure about that and we wouldn't have entered her into the female competition if we had any doubts."
Nevertheless, the rumors have been so persistent that Semenya will have to undergo strenuous and potentially humiliating gender testing after tonight's final. At least these tests should put the matter to rest once and for all.
Accusations such as these have long been lobbed at top female athletes. Many others, from Babe Didrikson to Florence Griffith-Joyner, have also endured accusations of being men because of the way they dominated their sports.
Comments