EON

caster semenya: Man or Woman?

South African teenage track star Caster Semenya has had to endure more scrutiny and humiliation than any young person should have to endure. Semenya is a South African track dynamo who has earned the title of The Teenage 800 Metres World Champion. You would think that an honor like this would cause this to be the happiest time in Semenya’s life. After years of hard work and dedication, she has finally achieved an honor such as this. But with this high honor has brought strict worldwide attention and criticism. Because of her outstanding performance in the race, throaty voice and muscular build, Semenya’s gender has been brought into question by the authorities at the IAAF (the International Association of Athletics Federations).

Semenya has improved greatly in one year’s time by improving 8 seconds off of her personal best 2-lap race time. The IAAF and other official parties involved tried to keep the investigation under wraps, but information was leaked by someone at the clinic that was conducting the testing of Semenya. For a teenager, this has become highly embarrassing and humiliating. The outcome has not yet been determined and already the speculation and the press surrounding the event have become somewhat unbearable for the teen. All of this negative attention has completely eclipsed the teen’s recent win.

The medal ceremony has been postponed until after the gender results have been returned for Semenya, but for now the world watches and waits. Many just hope for a favorable outcome in all of this for Semenya, so that the teen can enjoy some of the glory she’s worked so hard for.