SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - South African world champion Caster Semenya gets big welcome in home village while awaiting results of gender tests

Record ID: 453051

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - South African world champion Caster Semenya gets big welcome in home village while awaiting results of gender tests
  • Date: 29th August 2009
  • Summary: JOURNALISTS CASTER SEMENYA WALKING OUT OF THE HOUSE SCHOOLCHILDREN IN UNIFORM CLOSE-UP OF CASTER SEMENYA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CASTER SEMENYA'S SCHOOLMATE, KAGISO MOSINE, SAYING: "I know the fact that she is a girl, you know" (REPORTER: How do you know that?) "I know because we were at the same school" CROWDS CELEBRATING
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABVVQO1E4K5ERE93D7UFWD9HUS
  • Story Text: South Africa's 18-year-old 800m world championships gold medallist Caster Semenya receives a huge welcome in her home village while awaiting the results of gender tests.
    World champion South African runner Caster Semenya, whose victory has been overshadowed by a gender testing row, has returned to her home village to a big welcome.
    Furious South Africans have accused the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) of everything from racism to imperialism for ordering tests after the 18-year-old's
    rapid improvement raised its suspicions.
    On Tuesday Semenya, who won the 800 metres title with a crushing performance in Berlin, was greeted by thousands of wellwishers at Johannesburg's international airport.
    The controversy may have touched a raw nerve in a country where race is still a highly sensitive issue after decades of white rule under apartheid, which ended in 1994.
    It could be a tense few weeks for Semenya until the results are announced of the gender tests that have thrust her under the international spotlight.
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