Caster Semenya is a winner. The 29-year-old South African is the two-time women’s 800m Olympic champion, a three-time 800m world champion and a double Commonwealth Games middle distance gold medallist. To wrap those figures in further context, when Semenya won the Doha Diamond League 800m in May 2019, it was her 30th consecutive victory over […]
Caster Semenya is a winner. The 29-year-old South African is the two-time women’s 800m Olympic champion, a three-time 800m world champion and a double Commonwealth Games middle distance gold medallist. To wrap those figures in further context, when Semenya won the Doha Diamond League 800m in May 2019, it was her 30th consecutive victory over the distance.
Put simply, when fit, in-form and free to run without distraction, Semenya is almost unbeatable over the 800m. But these are not circumstances often afforded to Semenya, who lives with a condition in which her body produces a much higher level of testosterone than most other women.
In 2009, on the eve of the women’s 800m World Championship final, it was revealed that World Athletics (then the IAAF) had asked her to undergo gender verification testing. Semenya was permitted to compete in the final and won gold but was subsequently stopped from competing for nearly a year.
In 2011 the IAAF established official rules restricting female athletes with elevated levels of testosterone, arguing it presents an unfair advantage. From 2011 to 2019 Semenya was locked in a cycle of appeals and court cases until the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of IAAF regulations stating that female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) are required to take testosterone-reducing medication to compete in track events from 400m to the mile.
Caster Semenya has appealed against this judgement to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. But in March 2020 the soft-spoken athlete revealed on social media that she now aims to compete in the 200m.
“My dream has always been, and will continue to be, to compete at the highest level of sport and so in order to pursue my goals and dreams I have decided to change events and compete in the 200m,” said Caster Semenya, whose personal best in the 200m at the time was 23.49 seconds.
Do not bet against Caster Semenya lowering that to the Olympic qualification mark of 22.80 seconds in time for Tokyo 2020. This, after all, is an athlete who won the 400m, 800m and 1500m in the space of three hours one extraordinary afternoon at the 2016 South African National Championships.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Facebook
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Dr. Jacques Ludik is a visionary leader in the field of artificial intelligence, renowned for his innovative contributions and entrepreneurial spirit. As the founder of multiple AI companies, an award-winning AI leader, and a prolific author, Dr. Ludik has established himself as a pivotal figure in the advancement of smart technology. With a Ph.D. in […]
Neil Andrews is married and has two children. Neil Andrews went to school in Cape Town and completed a BA degree and HDE at UCT. Neil has worked in Sports-casting for over 20 years and began his broadcasting career as an announcer, race commentator and journalist for the Cape Turf Clubs. From 1991 -2000, Neil […]
Barry Hilton is one of South Africa’s most beloved comedians, celebrated for his sharp wit, relatable humor, and impeccable comedic timing. With a career spanning over four decades, Barry has entertained audiences across the globe, bringing laughter to corporate events, theaters, and comedy festivals. His clean yet hilarious humor makes him a favorite among diverse […]
Bryan Habana, a name synonymous with excellence in the world of rugby, is a legendary South African rugby player and one of the most electrifying athletes to grace the sport. Renowned for his blistering speed, strategic gameplay, and unparalleled determination, Habana has etched his name in history as one of the greatest wingers of all […]
John Smit, a name synonymous with resilience and leadership in the rugby world, stands as one of South Africa’s most revered sports figures. As the 50th captain of the Springbok rugby union team, Smit’s tenure was marked by unparalleled dedication and a series of historic victories that have etched his name into the annals of […]
Emma Sadleir is a media law consultant and speaker based in Johannesburg. Her areas of expertise include all aspects of print and electronic media law, with a particular focus on social media law. She has a BA LLB (with distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand and an LLM in Information Technology, Media Communications Law (with distinction) […]
Nozipho Tshabalala is a world-class facilitator and CEO of The Conversation Strategists, a trailblazing organization devoted to curating and moderating high-impact conversations that move societies forward. Renowned for her unique talent to steer transformative dialogues, Nozipho is the trusted voice in rooms where ideas shape policy, influence global economies, and ignite systemic change. Her work […]
Lerato Mbele joined the BBC in 2012. Prior to that, Lerato served as a Senior Business Anchor for CNBC Africa. She hosted a variety of business programs and discussions related to the economics, business strategy, stock markets, entrepreneurship and leadership. Lerato Mbele began her journalism career in 1999 at South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster The South […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
