Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya, born on 7 January 1991 in Ga-Masehlong, South Africa, is a South African middle-distance runner and one of the most decorated 800 m runners in history. She has won two Olympic gold medals and three World Championship titles in the women's 800 metres.

Semenya first won World Championship gold in 2009 and went on to claim Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games and another World title in 2017, where she also earned 1500 m bronze. Following the doping disqualification of Mariya Savinova, Semenya was additionally awarded gold medals for the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

Semenya's career has been marked by controversy surrounding eligibility regulations. After her 2009 World Championship victory, she underwent sex testing and was cleared to compete the following year. In 2019, World Athletics introduced rules requiring athletes with certain differences of sex development to suppress testosterone levels to compete in events from 400 m to 1500 m. Semenya has refused to undergo the required treatment and has pursued legal challenges against the regulations.