South Africa’s Caster Semenya through to Semifinals amidst Controversy as to whether she Should Compete as a Woman

25-year-old South African middle-distance runner, Caster Semenya‘s Olympic campaign has been trailed with controversy over her hyperandrogenism condition.

Semenya, who has been subject to a strict media ban by her coach and manager Jean Verster, while in Rio had said:

I am not a fake. I am natural. I am just being Caster. I don’t want to be someone I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be someone people want me to be. I just want to be me. I was born like this. I don’t want any changes.

Caster has never been accused of doping yet there continues to be a lot of noise from various parts of the world as to why she has not been excluded from the Olympic Games in Rio.

There have been calls that she should not participate because she has “unfair advantage” over the other athletes. This has not deterred the runner, and the support from South Africans have been awesome.

The Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has called for South Africans to get behind the Polokwane born Semenya with a campaign on social media as she is the favorite to win gold.

Leave Caster Semenya alone for goodness sake. Let her run man….#CasterSemenya #Caster4Gold #Caster800m #CasterTime

— I am KHOISAN (@denvermintoor) August 17, 2016

Critics say Caster Semenya is too built like a man to run with women, but this is the record holder in women’s 800m pic.twitter.com/eTfMmdxlHO

— Isima Odeh (@IsimaOdeh) August 17, 2016

Congratulations Caster Semenya we are proud of u! They will never stop talking, stay focused & continue reaching for that Gold. #Caster4Gold

— Nandipha Sekeleni (@Nanzyee) August 17, 2016

I’m proud of u #CasterSemenya #CasterIsMokgadi #Caster4Gold pic.twitter.com/LatHRyqrid

— ♛ⓑⓔⓝⓔⓓⓘⓒⓣ♛ (@IAmBenedict_) August 17, 2016

#RSA CASTER SEMENYA IS THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINAL ON FRIDAY!!!

YASSS girl ??? @caster800m #Caster4Gold #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ZfBIS4v2es

— Karabo Mokgoko (@Kay_Angel) August 17, 2016

Position now to support Caster because when others talk – you can shut them with silence and excellence pic.twitter.com/4oiuDWoMlz

— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) August 17, 2016

The gold is coming home for sure #Caster4Gold #CasterSemenya

— Shy Guy (@ShyGuySA) August 17, 2016

We are Proud of you @caster800m
Go and make Special Memories.
54 million supporters back home.@teamsa16 #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/jpPhom8PM0

— Sports Management (@ColinFrancke) August 17, 2016