“It changes you as a person”
Caster Semenya breaks her painful silence
December 9, 2023, 12:40 p.m
The European Court of Human Rights confirms to Caster Semenya that the rules of the World Athletics Federation discriminate against her. The two-time Olympic champion feels obliged to take public action against “the powerful”.
After a long silence, Olympic athletics champion Caster Semenya wants to raise her voice and initiate changes in sport. “The voice of the athletes counts for nothing, the powerful have the say. It’s about the athletes having to come first,” said Semenya, who has now ended her active career, in the “Sportschau” interview.
She wants to “be a role model for the young” so that they “stop hiding when they don’t like something. And no longer allow themselves to be exploited by those in power. That’s my job now, I’m happy where I am. “I can be forbidden to continue competing, but not to live as an individual,” added Semenya, who had not given any interviews for a long time.
The South African won Olympic gold in the 800 meters in 2012 and 2016 and became world champion in 2009, 2011 and 2017 – but since 2019 she has no longer been allowed to compete in international races over her parade route because of the so-called testosterone rule. In this context, Semenya is conducting a legal dispute with the Swiss Federal Court.
“We need new leadership”
Semenya achieved partial legal success before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The subsequent appeal by the Swiss, who are supported by the world athletics association World Athletics (WA), will now be finally heard by the highest ECHR chamber, where it will be decided to what extent WA’s testosterone rule is discriminatory.
“Just as every person has the right to live, he also has the right to participate in the world of sport. But the prevailing system in world sport is the old pattern of exclusion, abuse and discrimination. We need a new, universal language, “Different leadership. If sport is to be for everyone, as is always claimed, then we need to push this forward,” Semenya said.
Taking medication during her active career was “hell,” she said. “You work in a tunnel with no light. It changes everything. It changes your feelings. You feel weak every day. You’re sick every day. Bloated “, explained the 32-year-old and added: “You eat constantly. You gain weight. It just changes you as a person. That’s not the life you want to have.”