Caster Semenya will be coached by former Olympic and world 800-metre champion Maria Mutola after parting ways with mentor Michael Seme.
Semenya said Monday in a statement released to The Associated Press through her Finland-based agent that Mutola agreed to coach the 20-year-old South African soon after the recent world championships in Daegu, South Korea – where Semenya took silver in her 800-metre title defence.
Semenya says Mozambique's Mutola has been her “idol” since she started running and “will be a great teacher for me”.
Mutola, who has been playing semi-professional football in South Africa since retiring as one of athletics' great middle distance runners, says “this is a huge challenge for me to start with Caster. She is a great young athlete”. – Sapa-AP