Caster Semenya has switched her focus to women’s 200m and is hoping to make it to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Semenya, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games 800m champion, is unable to defend her title because of World Athletics’ rules on differences of sexual development.
In a statement, described as breaking new by Semenya on Friday, the South African said: “My dream has always been and will continue to be, to compete at the highest level of sport, and so in order to pursue my goals and dreams, I have decided to change events, and compete in the 200m.”
Semenya is likely to face Jamaicans Elaine Thompson, the defending sprint double champion, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, along with Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the 200m.
Semenya’s 200m personal best is 24.26.
Full statement:
“Ever since I saw the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on television, I have known that I want to compete on the Olympic stage,” the South African said in an Instagram post.
“My first international 800m medal came as a junior at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India, and over the next 11 years, I have won gold at every major international competition including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Diamond League and African Championships.
“However, as you are all aware, I am unable to compete in the 800m and defend my title at the Tokyo Olympic Games later this year.
“My dream has always been, and will continue to be, to compete at the highest level of sport, and so in order to pursue my goals and dreams, I have decided to change events, and compete in the 200m.
“This decision has not been an easy one, but as always, I look forward to the challenge, and will work hard, doing all I can to qualify for Tokyo and compete to the best of my ability for South Africa.
“Thank you to my team who have supported me over the past few months, and thank you to all South Africans who believe in me and stand behind me.”
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What a brutal evil! May God shut down all a dem man woman ya in Jesus name!!!
I knew this was coming. .lol i would love to see shelly bust yuh ass but the only man we want our queen run with is her husband and son .stay in your lane .
None of them taking part in the male races all of them hijacking the female races
@Pulane Phologotswana all of them homosexual should be competing in their own trans race. It’s unfair women racing with trans that are taking male or females hormones
So many t&f amateurs commenting, have any of you ever seen what the womens world record holders in the 400 and 800 looked like when they were competing?
Ain’t gonna be no olympic…..let it rest. Oonu go sid dung..with that wish full thinking
The comments towards her sexuality is very sad, Caster didn’t make herself God did. As for her sexual orientation thats her business. I doubt that Caster will give SFP or ET any challenge as Mr. Jackson stated you can’t coach speed. I am a big Caster fan and i think that she has suffered alot, she is very resilient and i respect her for that.
Venice Williams do you have anything against Mitchell Lee Ahye
I was a fan of caster up until he/she get a wife. So now he/she should compete with the transgender and no where near mummy bullet
Gia Bee. Most family has inside scuffles but you mess with one of them and the whole family will get you ..thats how we are “baby girl “.
@Gia Bee I deduce that you are not a Jamaican…..but envy ain’t cute. That man is no threat to Shelly Ann Frasier Price.
Hahahhaaaaa the only time Jamaicans love dem one another is when smaddy outside threaten dem wid anything. Caster whip any ass you feel like whip yaw baby girl don’t bother me none. ??
I knew this was coming. .lol i would love to see shelly bust yuh ass but the only man we want our queen run with is her husband and son .stay in your lane .
@Marcé Marcel why you calling “her” She. ?
What a brutal evil! May God shut down all a dem man woman ya in Jesus name!!!
A man she name ennui, wid all dem muscles anything is possible.
See-Man-Yah
@Tyrone Lewis dat mi say to. Go run wid man.
No man must run in the women’s 200 meters. Too bright now. Go challenge Gatlin and Coleman.
Looking forward to seeing Shelly send you into early retirement, bring it on Caster,Shelly is ready and waiting.
She will be running 22.x by the end of the year best believe it.
The higher the monkey climb the more him exposed
Ok sir
She need fi go hold har position, she ina di rong f**king lane.
Hey bwoy move from Ya suh ??
Stay inna your lane youth
Man vs woman and semenyaman get beat still
Wen yu guh inna di wrong lane n still get beatn, a double jeopardy enuh
Bouy seems like some Jamaicans would have been rooting for you until now???
24s will only get her out the preliminaries..
In order to be a threat .. She’ll need to be hitting mid-low 22s
Mi love caster but hold yu position.
I don’t think she was sober when she said that… From 23.8 to under 22.0, forget it!
Trust me, there will be no Olympics this year…….. #CoronaVirus
@Everton S. Jackson exactly.. Especially coming from an 800m background. Itll be hard to develop that pure speed.
You can only coach technique not speed. You either have it or you don’t.
What about the reigning world champion?