Eurweb.com is reporting that Caster Semenya, the South African teen track star at the center of allegations over her gender, has spoken to Britain’s Guardian newspaper about coping with sudden worldwide attention.
“People want to stare at me now. They want to touch me. I’m supposed to be famous but I don’t think I like it so much,” said the runner, who emerged from obscurity to win the women’s 800 meters title at the world championships in Berlin in August.
In an interview at her training track at the University of Pretoria published on Saturday, she admitted: “It’s not so easy. The university is OK but there is not many other places I can go.”
Leaked test results said Semenya was a hermaphrodite, containing signs of both male and female genitalia. The investigation itself sparked anger from the South African public and government, who have rallied behind the athlete.
Semenya’s future in the sport could be decided on Friday when the International Association of Athletics Federations is expected to announce its ruling on the gender tests. The IAAF could ban her from competing again, require that she undergo surgery, or take no action.
But as the controversy swirls around her, Semenya said she had found refuge with her training group and her coach, Michael Seme.
“I am myself here,” she told the newspaper. “Everyone just accepts me. They know who I am. I am just Caster to these guys. I feel good with them. I feel much better here with (Seme) and the athletes.”
She joked that “I can’t go shopping no more” because of her new status in South Africa, but added: “I know who I am. I can’t change what (people) say.”
Information from Eurweb.com and The Guardian Newspaper contributed to this report.