‘Athlete. Icon. Activist.’ These were the words used to describe sporting hero, Caster Semenya, at the launch of her book, The Race to Be Myself: A Memoir by Caster Semenya.
The event, which was moderated by University of Johannesburg (UJ) community engagement specialist Lebogang Ayobiojo, was held at the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) Auditorium on November 20 and saw attendees gather to hear insights from the celebrated icon.
JBS Centre for Entrepreneurship director, Machaka Mosehana, set the tone for the event with a poignant quote from the book: ‘For those who are born different and feel they don’t belong in this world, it is because you were brought here to create a new one. These words are a universal struggle that we can all find resonance with. These are the struggles of acceptance and the right to be oneself.’
Semenya’s book is described as one that explores the middle-distance runner’s journey as a young girl who was accepted for who she was in her community to the international legal battle surrounding her physical capabilities as well as understanding her agency, sexuality, and athletic ability. Her career as an athlete has been marred with controversy following her 2009 World Championships victory where she was made to undergo sex testing. In 2019 new World Athletics rules came into force preventing athletes like Semenya with certain Differences of Sex Development (DSD) from participating in 400m, 800m, and 1500m events in the female classification, unless they take medication to suppress their naturally high testosterone levels.
Semenya has filed a series of legal cases to restore her ability to compete in these events without testosterone suppression, arguing that the World Athletics rules are discriminatory. In July, she won her discrimination case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). However, Semenya and many other women athletes may still be banned from competing in sports under World Athletics regulations. The case is now headed to the ECHR’s Grand Chamber for a final ruling.
“This book is more about self-discovery, self-management, self-control and understanding yourself. If you don’t know who you are, it becomes a problem. I am a sacrifice to those young girls who can’t fight for themselves,” she said.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion in the women’s 800m said she hoped the book would encourage and motivate others to seek self-first.
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