By Jacques Breytenbach
With plans in place to name an athletics stadium after her, and being the inspiration behind a local government decision to pump R10-million into upgrading and building new sporting facilities in Limpopo Province, world athletics champion Caster Semenya has put South Africa's most northern province on the international map.
On Friday, the 800m gold medallist received a welcome-home party at her mother Dorcus's house in the village Ga-Masehlong, about 80km from Polokwane.
There to welcome back the 18-year-old running sensation were family, friends, former coaches and schoolmates, government dignitaries, and a large contingent of both national and international journalists. Semenya respected instructions she received from Athletics South Africa (ASA) bigwigs not to speak to the media, the country's newest sporting talent expressed her joy through a constant smile as she posed for photographers with various community members.
She also managed to thank all those who supported her through the IAAF World Championships in Berlin and said although she could not say much, she was "very happy". Semenya's grandfather, Alfred Semenya, who spoke on behalf of the family, said he was grateful his "little" granddaughter was back home safe. He said the Semenya family carried a "proud feeling" about the fact that she was the community's newest star.
"We trust in God, because God knows who she is. As a family we praise Caster because she is a hero. But in the village she has been known like this (as being muscularly built). And in an African culture, one is more negative than positive about such things.
"But now she has become a role model," Alfred said.
The mayor of the Capricorn District municipality, Motalane Monakedi, said plans were in place by the Limpopo provincial government to start the construction on five stadiums in the province early next year. The one closest to where Semenya grew up would be called the Caster Semenya Stadium.
Monakedi said R10 000 had been approved by the municipality to put into the development of sport in the Ga-Masehlong village. He said the municipality felt strongly about the IAAF's treatment of Semenya.
"It was unfair and humiliating for Caster to have been treated in that way. She grew up here as a girl and is now a woman in our community."
Semenya's local coach, Jeremia Mokaba, said: "I am very proud of her. She has the motivation and the will that makes her into a real winner. I am glad that I could see the potential in her and take her to club level."
Semenya's success meant the success of athletics in Limpopo.