our golden girl

The real issue is not that Caster Semenya is butch or buff. Its an old old tale that began with colonist and caucasian ideas that Africans that still exist today. Caster Semenya is the fastest female this year, at a mere 18 years has become our South African Golden girl. Her biggest offense is that he has no breasts, no shapely hips or ‘soft features’. I never imagined being a tomboy could be an international dispute or debate. Infact I fear for my own gender-standards that I may take up face-painting and crude uncomfortable shoes commonly worn by women to accentuate beauty. In a world where most girls suffer from eating disorders and their mothers have liposuction, plastic surgery, botox and implants its no wonder the Western media attacks you for embracing and accepting your natural shape.

So, she’s built like a man – big deal. I know many a swimmer, a dancer and too many athletes that have shoulders too wide for strapless dresses, breasts too firm for cleavage and thighs that could pull a truck. We’re all different by natural design.

The Australian media harbours a nasty tumour for successful South Africans, especially if there are of African descent. Its no secret that the Aussies practically endangered the Aboriginal people. It comes therefore, as a no surprise that they are the fuel behind the heated rumour that our Semenya is a man. So hyped are these allegations that the International Amateur Athletic Federation is conducting sex tests on her! “The athletics federation must not allow to be used by countries like Australia to push their racist agenda against South Africa,” read a statement issued by South African Football Players Union (SAFPU), on ulterior motives against Semenya.

Back home we’ve been up in arms, cultural and religious oppositions have united on the opinion that this is infact a disgusting display of the little faith the west and its puppets have in Africa. How desperate must be as a country to front a man in a woman’s race? With official quotes from Cosatu bluntly stating “we reject with contempt the attempts by European & Australian media who have tried to undermine her success by raising bogus and groundless queries about her gender.”

As if it is not hard enough being a teenager, living in the rural poor areas, where sports and recreational facilities are few and far between. How much psychological stress do you think it does to a young mind to have your sex debated on an international scale? Reports from interviews of childhood friends and former head masters have revealed that this is a discussion Semenya that has been going on her whole life. I still argue that it does not make it easier or excuse it.

Lets play out the idea that perhaps her XY chromosomes dont match, or she has more testosterone than say myself or any other ordinary girl. Does that make her less a girl, even though she posesses a vagina like every female in the world? In m time, I have seen many a man with soft features and even the curves, but he is still a man. I would so love to know the requirements to be female.

Many female athletes, including the Williams sisters – Venus and Serena, Marion Jones and Australian swimmer Libby Trickett have masculine frames and broad shoulders. We’ve asked ourselves why they were never taken through a series of sex tests or doubted as females. Indeed, the arrows all point to racism of the highest order. Mind you, this is not he first time that Europe has suspected a talented female African athlete of being a man. Remember Mario Mutola? “The athletics federation must not allow to be used by countries like Australia to push their racist agenda against South Africa,” read the SAFPU statement.

I give her props and commend her in the highest. Semenya still won her race and gave her best time, despite malicious efforts to bring her down and distract her from her glory. A reporter from the a local station said she had spoken to Semenya recently, and described her as really upbeat and quoted her as saying her critics can “go to hell”. I think she meant Austrialia. Semenya you are a true role model, and when you come home – a hero’s welcome is awaits you.