Tuesday 25 August 2009

Castermania

World 800m Womans IAAF Champion, Caster Semenya arrives at O.R Tambo, Southern Sun for a press-conference after flying back from Berlin. Semenya has been embroiled in a gender controversy after winning the 800m.A large group of supporters at O.R Tambo airport awaiting the arrival of Team SA.It's really unfortunate the way events have unfolded around Caster Semenya, I'll admit she is a bit muscular and manly for your average woman, but the humiliation she has had to endure recently is sickening, even at the press-conference held near the airport.
Reporters from all over the world, kept asking about the gender issue, testosterone levels and who's to blame for the speading of the rumours and the polititians were blatently trying to get a bit of kudos for being Mr nice guy... and nice woman.
All I wanted was for one of them to forget about the gender issue and simply ask her how she felt about the large crowd that was there waiting to welcome her home or how she felt her run went, like they do to any other athlete at the press-conference when they come back with a gold medal....., But they didn't.I felt so bad for her, hopefully this will be resolved soon and she'll come back someday with more golds and they will finally ask the right questions.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Neil
I agree the agenda around her is very sidetracked at the moment and I feel your pain.
I am glad there are rules in sport and that if someone wants to question your gender they can.
I am sad that the results for a gender test takes so long, but all in all, I think for her it is a good thing to just hang in there and wait for the results.
Once it is cleared up, she can focus on her future and take it from there.
Trust the media however to focus on the juicy bits of a story....

Gmeg said...

It is extremely sad that Caster Semenya had to endure such unnecessary emotional pain and humiliation all because the people that are meant to be looking out for her interests are more concerned with their own political agenda’s. The people/person involved in turning this whole affair into a 3 ring circus need to be accountable for their actions, not only for destroying her career but for making this country look like a joke to the international community.