Caster Semenya is a professional middle-distance runner who has represented South Africa in both the Olympics and the World Championships. At the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, she earned two gold medals. Aside from that, she has a number of gold medals to her name. The South African athlete has competed in the Olympics and the Continental Cup for her country. She has also competed in the Commonwealth Games. She also competed in African Championships and Games. In all of the competitions, Semenya has been a big success.
Caster is also one of the best runners, and she was once thought to be too quick to be a woman. When she broke her previous record and improved quickly, concerns about her sex grew. As a result, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ordered a sex verification test. She was asked to take the exam shortly after winning gold at the 2009 World Championships. Despite the fact that the request was confidential, the information was leaked by several sources.
What is Caster Semenya’s Salary And Net Worth?
The gold medallist has made the majority of her money by competing in tournaments.
Despite the fact that her net worth is to be $2 million, several sources suggest it to be far greater. Aside from that, the queen of 800m races is fashionable and well-supported by well-known corporations. Adidas, a well-known sportswear company, used to sponsor her.
Nike is currently the dominant force in the world of track & field. Wiphold Investment Trust is also a proud sponsor of Semenya. She is also supported by Bridgestone and Discovery. She is also the creator of the Caster Semenya Foundation. In 2009, the Limpopo government presented Semenya and her family with a house in recognition of her efforts.
Early Life, Family, And Education of Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya, the Olympic gold champion, was born in the South African town of Pietersburg. Dorcus Semenya and Jacob Semenya are her parents. She also had five siblings and grew up in a large and loving family. Her parents have always been highly supportive of her job decision. They also encouraged her to participate in sports and be involved with them. As a child, the athlete was quite active and lively. As a result, she focused her concentration on soccer and other sports. Cobra went to Nthema Secondary School and played soccer there.
The runner was the sole female member of the soccer squad at her school. Despite this, she continued to play and do what her heart desired. Aside from that, her powerful appearance was frequently mocked by her classmates. Many people at the school, including the principal, mistook her for a guy. She, on the other hand, didn’t let the criticism get to her and continued to pursue her dreams. The gold medallist frequently refers to herself as a courageous young lady. Caster enrolled in a public institution, the University of North West, to study sports science after graduating from high school.
Age, Height, and Weight of Caster Semenya
On January 7, 2022, the distance runner turned 31 years old. She is a very enthusiastic athlete who is also very aware of her food and health. Caster is widely thought to be an intersex athlete, which means he possesses both sexes. She is born with XY chromosomes and naturally higher testosterone levels than a male. As a result, she works out and trains on a daily basis. As a result, the athlete is able to live a long and healthy life. She is also 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds or 70 kg.
Initial Career Caster Semenya Track And Field
When she was 17 years old, the athlete began her profession. She represented the United States in the 2008 World Junior Championships. The runner, however, did not qualify for the race. Despite this, she was awarded a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008. The gold medallist improved her time the next year, becoming quicker than she had ever been. At the African Junior Championships, she won several events and set new marks. Caster also took home a gold medal at the World Championships.
The South African set the quickest time in the 800m race with his victory. Semenya was also named the best female 800-meter runner by a prominent sports publication. Her rapid progress prompted officials to conduct a drug test. When the drug test came back negative, the IAAF asked the runner to take a sex verification test. As a result, she got off to a sluggish start in 2010. She was also forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games owing to injury. As a result, Semenya kept a quiet profile during the 2011 World Championships. In the finals, she came in second place. However, the champion, Mariya Savinova, was disqualified for doping and her gold medal was awarded to Cobra.
Gold Medals And Olympic Success
The runner competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for her country. After losing against Savinova, she was awarded a silver medal for her country. However, because the Russian athlete was disqualified for drug offenses by the CAS, Semenya was granted the gold medal. In the 2016 season, the athlete returned stronger and better.
Furthermore, at the South African National Championships, Cobra became the first and only athlete to win the 400, 800, and 1500 meter races. She also represented her country at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning gold. She also took home gold and bronze at the 2017 World Championships. Officials began to suspect that her victories were not merited. Many believed her high testosterone levels played a role in her success.
Following some ongoing legal fights, Caster returned to the 2018 World Championship. Both the 800 m and 1500 m races were won by the runner. She also won gold medals at the African Championship and the Continental Cup in the same year. She was not allowed to compete according to the IAAF’s new rules because of her high testosterone levels. As a result, she joined the SAFA Sasol Women’s League in South Africa. After being banned from the 400 m to the one-mile event, Semenya raced in the 200 m race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Gender Testing Caster Semenya
The best player won the World Championship 800m race in 2009. In a month, she improved her personal best by four seconds. Doubts about her sex developed as a result of her rapid recovery. The IAAF sought a sex verification test amid all the rumors and assumptions.
Furthermore, the runner’s physical characteristics did not assist her.
The request for the test was meant to be kept private. However, due to a leak, some of her test results and medical records were made public. In addition, the breach of confidentially elicited a number of unkind reactions and remarks. Furthermore, the president of Athletics South Africa admits to keeping Semenya in the dark.
She had no idea why the tests were being conducted.
Aside from that, many people criticized the IAAF for its racist and sexist actions.
A male athlete who had achieved significant progress would not have been subjected to the test.
The IAAF clarified that it did not suspect Caster of cheating. Rather, they sought to see if she had a “unique medical issue” that provided her with an “unfair advantage.” The gold medalist received free legal advice from the Dewey & LeBoeuf law firm under the direction of the sports minister.
Caster Semenya | Testosterone Laws, Controversy, And A Legal Battle
Dutee Chand, an Indian athlete, was suspended by the IAAF in 2014. They claimed that because of her hyperandrogenism, she was ineligible to compete as a female athlete. They also suggested using birth control pills, hormone shots, or surgery to reduce testosterone levels. Despite this, Chand filed a complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. As a result, CAS decided to let her compete despite the absence of evidence.
They also suspended the IAAF’s regulation of hyperandrogenism or high natural testosterone levels.
Aside from that, they allowed the IAAF two years to show that testosterone improved female sports performance.
“Differences in sex development,” according to the organization, were announced in 2018. Women with hyperandrogenism, or high testosterone levels, would need to take drugs to reduce their levels.
Only a few athletes were affected by the regulation. As a result, there were rumors that the IAAF had issued a directive to attack Semenya. The gold medalist contested the verdict to the CAS and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. Despite agreeing that the policy is discriminatory, they favored the IAAF’s position. Caster, however, has not given up hope and has announced that she would take her case to the European Court of Human Rights.
She had used birth control tablets to suppress her testosterone level, as directed by the IAAF. The drugs, on the other hand, made her unwell and gave her fevers. She also went into detail about how it affected her self-esteem and confidence. Cobra also claimed that if she had to, she would leave. Furthermore, the athlete discussed bigotry and sexism. She added that when a male performs better, he is praised, but when a woman does worse, she is labeled as a problem.
What is Caster Semenya Relationship status?
Violet Raseboya is Cobra’s wife. She, like her wife, is an athlete and runner. Aside from that, she is a South African. In 2007, the pair met for the first time in a public restroom. Raseboya mistook Semenya for a boy when she was being led by doping inspectors. She also questioned the officials as to why a guy was in a female restroom. The gold medalist was enraged and responded that she was not a boy.
Their brief and passionate quarrel quickly blossomed into love. Violet, on the other hand, was not ready to admit that she was attracted to women. She was perplexed because she had previously dated a young man. Despite her befuddlement, she couldn’t deny she felt feelings for Caster. As a result, the two became a couple since love knows no gender. Their connection drew a great deal of criticism and scrutiny. Despite this, they continued to walk hand in hand over every stumbling block. Finally, in 2015, the couple married in a magnificent ceremony.
In 2017, the couple enjoyed a lavish second wedding.
Furthermore, the two-time gold medalist and her wife have been outspoken about their desire to start a family. With four siblings, Semenya grew up in a huge family. So she wants to have three kids at the very least. Raseboya is a twin, thus the athlete has declared her desire to have twins. The couple eventually announced their pregnancy on social media. They are currently the proud parents of a beautiful young daughter.
Presence on social media:
The runner is active on a number of social networking sites. She has a large fan base due to her status as one of the most prominent athletes in the world. As a result, she has a 213k-follower Instagram account. She generally writes about track and field. In addition, the runner’s running gear contains various photos. In addition, the athlete sends out a lot of motivational notes to her admirers. Violet Raseboya and her recently celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary. Cobra also posts stunning images of herself with her lovely hubby and daughter.
Aside from that, the gold medalist has 412.1k Twitter followers. Her Twitter account is where she is the most active. Caster uses her platform to primarily tweet sports and running-related topics. Nike and her other sponsors are also promoted by her. In track and field, she is a force to be reckoned with. As a result, she has been photographed on a number of occasions and events. She is also followed by a slew of celebrities and well-known athletes. NBA player LeBron James and musician Justin Beiber are among others who have followed her.
Quick Facts:
Full Name | Mokgadi Caster Semenya |
Birth Date | January 7, 1991 |
Birth Place | Pietersburg, South Africa |
Nick Name | Cobra |
Religion | Christian |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | African |
Education | North-West University |
Horoscope | Capricorn |
Father’s Name | Dorcus Semenya |
Mother’s Name | Jacob Semenya |
Siblings | Five |
Age | Years Old |
Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
Weight | 154 lb. (70 kg) |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Build | Athletic |
Profession | Middle-distance runner |
Country Representation | South Africa |
Events | 800 meters, 1500 meters |
Sexual Orientation | Intersex Cisgender Woman |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Violet Raseboya |
Kids | One |
Net Worth | $2 million |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Merch | The Gentlewoman Magazine Issue 21, The Run For Life – Kindle Edition |
Last Update | March, 2022 |
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