I moved on from my fight with World Athletics – Caster Semenya

I moved on from my fight with World Athletics – Caster Semenya

South African athletics icon Caster Semenya says she’s no longer affected by her battle with World Athletics regarding its testosterone regulations.

Restricted from competing in middle-distance events like the 800m and 1500m due to elevated testosterone levels, Semenya has spent the past five years challenging the governing body's rules.

Although her ban has prevented her from participating in the last two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Japan, she remains committed to advocating for young girls who may find themselves in similar situations.

"My fight? Me, I moved on. I'm in a space where really to be honest it's no longer about that fight there, I played my part. I think now it's more of, when we say people are activists, I think I see myself more as a role model to the kids making sure that in everything I do, I do it in the best interest of the youth because you have to understand that there are a lot of young girls that are affected by what I've been affected by,” Semenya said.

“The goal is to remind them that look, to get the courage, to accept and move on but fight when it's necessary to fight. So, for me it's one of those battles that you say look, you fight authorities to do right for athletes.

“So, I think I'm in that space where I'll say look competition to me is no longer a factor. A factor is changing other people's lives which is what I'm doing now."

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Semenya is actively involved in coaching and managing athletics programs in rural areas, providing support to vulnerable youth and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"Mental health is very important, I think for me that's where I come in. So, the battles up there, yes we always fight them but at the end of the day, we are fighting for the rise of the athletes, we 're fighting for the leadership,” she added.

“For the leaders to make sure that in everything that they do they take care of the athletes, they put athletes rights first, all those things, athletes are protected. In as much as we say, safeguarding is very important and it's very vital.

“So, it's just to remind them that yes, they might have done things to me but you don't dare try to touch these other young kids. Our goal is to make sure that these kids enjoy sports, these kids partake in sports, even though they are being blocked into these channels but it's just to remind them that this is not the end of the world, they can still do something for their lives, they can still study, they can still do that. So, I think for me that's where I play my role, just to fight for human rights and make sure that leaders do right for athletes."