The 25-year- old is yet to compete in the 2016 edition of the Games and already controversy is brewing around the 800m World champion, Semenya who is arguably in the form of her life has already come under fire without setting foot on the track, her participation in the event is one of the most talked about aspects of the sporting showpiece with the focus on her hyperandrogynism and it is fuelling the world’s media’ scientific and ethical storm.
This controversy has prompted her coach and manager Jean Verster to cancel any interviews and has reportedly hired a security detail to protect the track star for the duration of the event.
The Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has called for South Africans to get behind the Polokwane born Semenya with a campaign on social media, Semenya is undoubtedly the favourite for gold despite the challenge from Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba which has seen the South African beat her African counterpart on 3 occassions. Kenya’s Eunice Sum is also a potential threat and her challenge can’t be written off, it will be fascinating to watch despite the heats this afternoon despite them generally being a low key affair.
Some experts have gone as far to predict that Jarmila Kratoch Vilova’s 33 year record of 1.53.28 is in danger with the form that Semenya is currently in.
