I don’t need a coaching qualification to be a coach - Caster Semenya

At 32 years old, Semenya, along with her wife Violet Raseboya, co-founded the Masai Athletics Club, where she mentors over 200 aspiring athletes in Tshwane.

READ: Caster Semenya: It disappoints to see how weak we are as Africans and Asians

Having been self-coached from 2016 to 2018, in an interview with SABC Sport, Semenya insists her coaching prowess is not defined by a mere piece of paper from Athletics South Africa (ASA).

"I really don't care about coaching badges because I may have level 1 or level 5, or level 10, it will mean nothing – that's just an affiliation," said Semenya.

"I did level 1, and in university I did the presentation, which is equivalent to the level 3, so I don't necessarily need a level coaching to coach.

"I need knowledge, I need understanding, I need safeguarding; I've studied athletics as a motto, I know everything about athletics, so it's a matter of how I apply my skills to the athletes.

"It's a matter of educating the athletes about the principles of training, nutrition, sports injuries, psychology – all those things. If I want those badges, I can just go get them, but those don't make me a coach, it's just a badge."

Semenya further stresses her main goal is to assist children and young individuals in realising their aspirations of becoming athletes, while, in her view, a coaching qualification is merely a symbolic document that fails to bring her any sense of accomplishment.

"For me, I would think what's important for me at the moment is to run a sustainable programme that educates kids to understand the importance of sports, education, and the principles of life and humanity – how to treat people with respect," she added.

"So that's my main focus. If I want to do coaching level 2, I'll go do it, but it's not really important because it's not close to my heart.

"At the end of the day, I'm going to get a badge that, to me, does not make me happy. What makes me happy is to see a young boy, a young girl get to the right school, get bursaries, get training shoes and going there. Badges, I'll see them when I'm 50."

ALSO READ: ASA boss James Moloi promises success in the relay events in Paris