Caster Semenya hopes that IOC chief Kirsty Coventry will put the interests of athletes first

Semenya welcomed Coventry’s historic appointment as the first woman to lead the global Olympic body, following her succession of Germany’s Thomas Bach last month.

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Coventry, Africa’s most decorated Olympian with seven medals, will begin her eight-year term in June.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwean swimmer was a surprise winner in the elections.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Semenya expressed her hopes that Coventry will champion the development of women in leadership and safeguard athletes’ interests throughout her presidency.

The 34-year-old three-time world champion emphasized the importance of empowering women in sports administration.

“For me, I was pleased that she was one of the candidates I had been looking forward to. As a woman, I expect a leader who leads by example, prioritizes athlete protection, and revisits policies with a stronger focus on safeguarding. Ensuring athlete safety should come first before making any amendments or changes. Athletes deserve respect, and my expectation is that fairness is upheld throughout her term. This office must operate with principles of non-discrimination and inclusivity, and those in leadership should be mindful of their words and actions,” said Semenya.

Semenya expressed her thoughts, saying, “Actions speak louder than words. You can’t claim to support non-discrimination and non-racial policies while failing to protect people and allowing segregation and racial abuse to continue. As a woman, my expectation of her is to ensure that women are well-developed, properly trained for leadership roles, and given opportunities to be part of all her initiatives. That’s what matters. I’m happy she won, and the fact that someone else only got two votes serves them right—they deserved that. It's inspiring to see women being given the chance to showcase their skills, knowledge, and talent on a global stage.

Hopefully, we’ll witness better competitions across all events, with athletes receiving the respect they deserve,” Semenya concluded with a light-hearted laugh.

Semenya is currently barred from competing in her preferred 800m event by World Athletics due to naturally high testosterone levels.

As she continues her legal battle against the governing body, she remains concerned about the discrimination faced by other athletes.

Her hope is to create a more inclusive sporting world where everyone has the freedom to compete in any event of their choice.

She told the national broadcaster, "My battle with World Athletics is no longer just my own; it’s about securing the future for upcoming athletes and ensuring their right to compete in sports."