Golden Girl Caster Semanya Receives Royal Reception in South Africa

Caster Semanya arrives home in South Africa, receiving from her supporters a rousing reception befitting a royal.

Semanya was shot to fame by her stunning 800m win in the World's Athletics Championships in Berlin last week. Then controversy reigned as it became widely known that the  International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had demanded that Semanya should take a gender test hours before her win.

She was so upset that she almost refused to accept the gold medal at the podium.

South Africa has strongly rallied behind her, and the women's league has accuse the IAFF of launching a vicious attack on the dignity of Semanya and all women athletes.

Caster Semanya has been hailed as "our first lady of sport", as the message on one poster reads.

Her family are frustrated and bemused by the gender controversy. Semanya  was born and grew up as a girl throughout all of her 18 years.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Birth certificate backs SA gender (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Gender Row Athlete's Family: 'She Is A Woman' (news.sky.com)

Gender Issue in Athletics - Caster Semanya

South African Caster Semanya, 18, with a tume of 1 minute 55.45 seconds became the woman world 800m champion on Wednesday.

But will she hold on to her title? That depends on whether she is a she or a he.

Doubt have surfaced whether Semanya is male or female. The International Association of Athletics Federations asked her to undergo a gender test three weeks.

The tests, it says, are complex and it would be several weeks before results are in. The procedure involves various doctors, a gender expert and even a psychologist.

The South African athetics federation is convinced that such fears are unfounded, and that it is sure that Semanya is a female.

Golf, Rugby Sevens and Women's Boxing - New Olympic Sports

The International Olympic Committee has made recommendations to add golf, rugby sevens and women's boxing as new sports in the Olympics.

Women's boxing will be part of the 2012 London Olympics. British women boxers are delighted to be given the chance to compete on home ground.

Image via Wikipedia

In the meantime, the IOC executive board has also voted to include golf and rugby sevens in the games, but that will be for the 2016 Olympics. The recommendations have to be approved by the full IOC congress, which will meet in October in Copenhagen. It is expected that the congress will rubber-stamp the recommendations.

Even Tiger Woods is delighted at the prospect of playing in the Olympics.

Rugby sevens is a fact-action sport, that has grown rapidly in popularity world-wide. It will certainly add to the excitement of the Olympics. More on Rugby Sevens.