Caster Semenya won in a personal best time of 1:55:29, setting a new record time for a South African and recording the fastest 800m time in the world this year.
She has been scrutinised and stared at and questioned but on Saturday night came a moment simply to marvel at the supreme athleticism of Caster Semenya – a 25-year-old woman who, when all was said and done, powered her way to an 800m gold with an outstanding performance.
Semenya’s innate condition, hyperandrogenism, has made her a marginal figure, diving for safety in mixed zones and escaping the spotlight. But though the debate around her will continue until the authorities find a solution to whether the testosterone her condition creates must be controlled, her performance was beautiful in its athleticism and intelligence.
She won in a personal best time of 1:55:29, setting a new record time for a South African and recording the fastest 800m time in the world this year. Second was the Burundi Francine Niyonsaba. Third was the Kenyan Maragaret Nyairere Wambui, the 20-year-old also thought to be among the athletes with hyperandrogenism.
Semenya was undemonstrative as she had been in her heat in midweek. She made a cross with her arms. But she was fast out at the start, hit the front after the first bend and finished the first lap there in 57:59. Niyonsaba came back and briefly led but Semenya looked effortless as she regained ascendency at the 200m mark and eased home.
Here’s all the pics from the epic race.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens.
by 