Caster Semenya

Mokgadi Caster Semenya (born 7 January 1991) is a South African middle-distance runner and world champion. Semenya won gold in the woman's 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships with a time of 1:55.45 in the final. She is WIPHOLD’s official brand ambassador.

Caster Semenya, a well known and respected South African track and field athlete, becomes WIPHOLD’s Brand Ambassador.

WIPHOLD has been assisting this world champ since 1 October 2010, this is a three-year term agreement.

WIPHOLD branding is already displayed on all of her sports apparel, except her running vests as prescribed by international practice. In particular, the said name and logo will be displayed on the top left hand side of her tracksuits and other track apparel, such as caps, towels, shoes and related sports apparel.

Caster will avail herself to attend such events as WIPHOLD may require, subject to the need not to disturb her studies and training programme.

Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, questions were raised about whether Semenya had a physical condition that might give her an unfair advantage over other female racers. She was withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her to return to competition. In 2010, the British magazine New Statesman included Semenya in its list “The World’s 50 Most Influential Figures 2010”.

Early life and education

Semenya was born in Ga-Masehlong, a village in South Africa near Polokwane, and grew up in the village of Fairlie, “deep in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province. She has three sisters and a brother, and is said to have been a tomboy as a child.

Semenya attended Nthema Secondary School and now attends Pretoria University as a first-year sports science student. She began running as training for soccer.

Achievements

In July Semenya participated in the 2008 World Junior Championships, and won the gold in the 800 m at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games with a time of 2:04.23.

In the African Junior Championships Semenya won both the 800 m and 1500 m races with the times of 1:56.72 and 4:08.01 respectively. With that race she improved her 800 m personal best by seven seconds in less than nine months, including four seconds in that race alone. The 800 m time was the world leading time in 2009 at that date. It was also a national record and a championship record. Semenya simultaneously beat the Senior and Junior South African records held by Zelda Pretorius at 1:58.85, and Zola Budd at 2:00.90, respectively.

In August Semenya won gold in the 800 metres at the World Championships with a time of 1:55.45 in the final, again setting the fastest time of the year.

Personal information

Date of birth  7 January 1991 (age 20)
Place of birth  Polokwane
Height  1.70 metres (5 ft 7 in)
Weight  64 kilograms (140 lb)
Event(s)  800 metres, 1500 metres
Achievements and titles  800m: 1:55.45
Personal best(s)  1500m: 4:08.01