Caster Semenya is Finally Speaking for Herself

Caster Semenya always knew she was destined for greatness. She thought it would be as a soccer player, and dreamed, as a young girl growing up in the small village of Ga-Masehlong in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, that she’d play for the national women’s team, Banyana Banyana.

But at fifteen, a teacher, Mr Maseko, aka “Boss,” (not quite a coach, since her school didn’t have the money for those, but someone who acted like one, nonetheless) pulled her aside one day, and told her about a new sport starting at the school. Seeing how she ran during baseball games, he encouraged her to take up athletics. It was indeed the sport that would bring her the greatness she envisioned for herself – over the course of a decade, she’d earn over 30 victories, including two Olympic gold medals and three World Championship titles in the 800 meters. Read More