Caster Semenya thrilled South Africans in the middle of Saturday night with a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, but her fellow athletes and other celebrities also cheered for Team SA’s newest Olympic champion.
Semenya’s brilliant run at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time) saw her clinch South Africa’s second gold medal in Rio to take their tally to 10, the most since their readmission to the Games in 1992.
It was a measured performance by the 25-year-old as Semenya waited patiently in second place behind Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba before striking on the last bend as she sped away to win in a new South African record of 1 minute 55.28 seconds (1:55.28), exactly two seconds behind the world record of Jarmila Kratochvilova, which was set in 1983.
Niyonsaba took the silver in 1:56.49, while Kenya’s Margaret Wambui claimed the bronze medal in 1:56.89.
Team SA’s only other gold medallist in Rio, 400m champion and world record-holder Wayde van Niekerk, expressed his delight on Twitter after watching Semenya grab gold. “Gold Gold Gold for Caster proudly South African. @caster800m was never a doubt,” Van Niekerk stated on his @WaydeDreamer account.
Javelin star Sunette Viljoen, who won South Africa’s ninth Rio medal with a silver on Thursday night after throwing 64.92m, praised Semenya for her tenacity following ongoing criticism in some sections of the world’s media about her gender status.
“So proud of you @caster800m! Not only for all your achievements, but for the obstacles you’ve had to overcome. I salute you,” she tweeted from @Sunette_Viljoen.
South African 200m sprinter Anaso Jobodwana (_@ambitious_jay) was even more forthright in showing his support for Semenya. “Caster you beaut!!! @caster800m #letthemhate”
Former Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, Jay Naidoo (@Jay_Naidoo), addressed the controversy as well as he congratulated Semenya. “So proud of #CasterSemenya A role model for #youth Triumph in the face of prejudice. #Caster4Gold”
Semenya – who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics – became only the second South African female to win an Olympic gold since readmission in 1992, following in the footsteps of swimming great Penny Heyns, who won the 100m and 200m breaststroke titles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
@pennyheyns tweeted: “Congratulations @caster800m on a very well deserved victory. So happy for you. #LetsGoRio2016”
Former swimming gold medallist Ryk Neethling went with the simple but powerful phrase of “Olympic Champion @caster800m!”, while rugby star Breyton Paulse said “Well done Caster. Thank you”.
The last word goes to the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, who had watched the Springboks beat Argentina 30-23 in Nelspruit earlier in the evening. He was as energetic as ever in wishing Semenya well.
“We love you Caster !! Thank you Caster, South Africa stands proud and we are lost of words ! You are simply Amazing,” Mbalula tweeted from the @mbalulafikile account.
“Dear World That was Caster - a great Ambassador for our country South Africa. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE HER She SLAYS”
@ashfakmohamed