Caster Semenya - The Exception

TRACK & FIELD - 800m - SOUTH AFRICA

ARCHETYPE: THE EXCEPTION

Day 106/135

Athletic Accomplishments

Caster Semenya is a South African middle distance runner who has dominated in the 800m for over a decade, and whose career has been embroiled in controversy over whether and how she should compete, and who gets to classify her and how.

But before we get into all that, let’s start with the basics. Semenya won her first World Championship gold medal in 2009, at age 18.

In the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics, Semenya placed second in the 800m, but was awarded the gold in 2017 after the winner, Mariya Savinova, was banned for doping and all her results were disqualified.

She went on to win five career gold medals at the African Championships in the 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 4x400m.

Character Archetype: The Exception

Caster Semenya is a South African 800m runner, who has won three world championship gold medals and two Olympic gold medals since her pro career began in 2009. She won all her titles without doping. Just relying on her natural born body and intensive training.

But once Semenya started winning, competitors, coaches, and IAAF officials called her sex into question because of her muscular body and deep voice. The IAAF brought her in for sex verification tests, which were publicly leaked, violating all kinds of privacy laws and human decency.

The testing revealed that Semenya is intersex. Though she identifies as a woman and was assigned female at birth, she has XY chromosomes and naturally elevated testosterone levels. But Semenya’s testosterone levels are still far below those of men. So, this matter is complicated and should be handled delicately, right?

Instead, in 2018, the IAAF announced new rules that required athletes with differences of sex development take medication to lower their testosterone levels before being allowed to compete in the 400m, 800m, or 1500m. If you think that very specific rule sounds like it’s targeting Semenya, you’re not the only one.

As a result, Semenya is seeking to qualify for the Olympics in the 200m and in the 5,000m. As of now, it appears unlikely that she'll meet the qualifying standard for either distance. But when the system is designed to keep you out, what choice do you have but to try every door and window?