Caster Semenya, photo by PhotoRun.net
Semenya says it is not the same
CAPE TOWN (RSA): Coach Jean Verster has said Caster Semenya being retroactively crowned world 800m champion in 2011 and Olympic champion in 2012 is “not the same” as winning on the day, informs Reuters. “I spoke to [Caster] and we both agree – it’s not the same. We weren’t there on the podium and there was no national anthem so it’s kind of water under the bridge for us. It’s not the same feeling as it was in the Rio Olympics last year. It is nice to know they are catching the cheats five years down the line, though, but it’s nothing to get excited about for us,” he said. Semenya finished second in both races behind Mariya Savinova who was retroactively disqualified for abnormalities in her biological passport.
RunBlogRun opines: Being given a medal four to five years after the original award is more than an anti-climax. Why should a sponsor pay you for awards that their sponsorship recieved no recognition for? That is why they sponsor athletes! Understand Caster Semenya’s lack of excitement on the awards she has recieved five and four years post the events.
