Caster Semenya Clinches Gold in SA 5 000m Race, Makes Mzansi Proud
- South African sprinter Caster Semenya has bagged a record win in the 5 000m race in Tshwane to restore pride in her fans
- Despite winning the South African championships race on Wednesday, Caster Semenya unfortunately failed to book a ticket to the Olympics in Japan this year
- In the wake of her personal best at 16:14.43, Caster Semenya’ fans have expressed happiness at seeing the athlete back in action
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South Africans are delighted in the fact that sprinter Caster Semenya bagged another victory in 15 minutes during the South African championships in Pretoria on Wednesday.
As she was targeting a spot at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Semenya’s route took a massive blow as she failed to qualify.
Despite the 800m Olympic champion having clinched the win in 15 minutes, clocking 52.28 seconds (15:52.28), it was unfortunately outside the qualifying time required, which is 15:10.00, en route to Japan.
However, the sprinter will find solace in the record as she has set her new best personal best in the distance, beating her previous mark of 16:14.43 by a huge margin.
According to IOL, the Limpopo-born athlete can also find delight in her effort as it was her first race in months while also battling it out against the World Athletics’ rules regarding the case of different sexual development (DSD).
Source: Twitter
Semenya was quoted by SowetanLive:
“We’re happy with what we’re doing‚ we’re having fun. At training each and every day we don’t stress. At [Gauteng North] we were a little bit down and now we’re trying to maintain the splits‚ which is better.
"We’re just trying something new‚ trying to make a pair that will work well. It helps a lot when you have a training partner who understands you and you understand them. The chemistry’s good.
“We had to look into‚ ‘Can we do 200 for the next five years?’ It was not really in our favour. I’m getting old‚ I’m scared to tear my muscles. We had to sit down and make sure that the decision that we make makes sense. Distance makes sense.”
The 30-year-old also shared her future plans, saying she is a parent and will look to make ends but will not partake in the 5 000m race any time soon.
@Sevhic said:
“It’s good to see Caster Semenya running, so effortless.”
@Ashfak Mohamed said:
"Just In: Congrats to Caster Semenya @caster800m who has clinched victory in the 5 000m at the SA Championships! Still waiting on the time...”
Briefly News had a story on the athlete as the South African Sports, Arts, and Culture Department was refusing to give up on Semenya's case and has now escalated the matter to the European Court of Human Rights in an attempt to overrule CAS's last ruling against the three-time world champion.
The department recently held a meeting in preparation for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and Semenya's case was one of the most important things that were discussed in the meeting.
In a statement released after the meeting, the Chairperson of the committee, Beauty Dlulane said that the ASA is fully behind Semenya. She also said that many other countries would also love to see Semenya compete.
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Source: Briefly News
