Exclusive: Caster Semenya Reveals Next Athletics Star Set to Take the World by Storm

As Caster Semenya moves away from competing to full-time coaching, it’s allowed the double Olympic 800m champion to appreciate the considerable running talent currently pounding the streets in South Africa.

Though Semenya is still in good shape herself, she was effectively banned by World Athletics (WA) in 2019 from competing. Back then, WA introduced new regulations which required Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) athletes like Semenya to take testosterone-lowering medication to be eligible for competition.

The regulations were enforced in events from 400m to 1600m, which meant Semenya could not compete in the events she was best suited for.

While her legal battles are ongoing, and will certainly take many years for any possible change to the rules, the triple World Champion has shifted her focus to watching and guiding new talent.

Gerda Steyn: Dominating the Two Oceans Marathon

The 34-year-old in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, paid special tribute to Gerda Steyn who won her sixth Two Oceans Marathon title in a row.

“That's one class of its own. She has mastered the Comrades and the Two Oceans. She knows what to do, when to peak. What I love about her is that she doesn't limit herself. She will still do 10 km and then 21 km to keep her speed up. I'm quite impressed and I'm looking forward to seeing the next four years,” Semenya told SportsBoom.co.za.

Prudence Sekgodiso: South Africa's Rising Star in 800m Athletics

As Semenya’s competitive days came to an abrupt end five years ago as she justifiably refused to adhere to WA’s new regulations, it was generally believed that it could be decades before South Africa produced another 800m runner of the same class.

In stepped Prudence Sekgodiso. The 23-year-old already has a personal best time of 1 minute 57.26 seconds (1:57.26), which is just three seconds off Semenya’s Personal Best (PB) and SA record of 1:54.25.

Given her age, there’s every chance that Sekgodiso could go on to challenge for the National Record (NR). In fact, she already has the indoor NR of 1:58.40, which she ran at the World Indoor Championships in March to become SA’s first-ever women’s medalist at the event with her gold medal.

“Prudence is a great athlete. She's doing well. My advice would be to be consistent with what she's doing. Whatever she's doing with the coach, it's beautifully done."

“If she stays humble and then she's focused, she can be a good contender for a medal. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can accomplish after winning the World Indoor Medal, particularly gold. It's very beautifully done."

“I'm excited to see what she can produce in the next World Champs.”

Glenrose Xaba's Record-Breaking Achievements

As a coach, Semenya has already had considerable success through her star athlete, Glenrose Xaba.

Just last year, Xaba set a NR in the 10km on the road with a time of 31:12 in July and then just a couple of months later set another SA record in the marathon with a time of 2:22:22, bettering the previous mark held by Steyn.

“The relationship with Glenrose is more of a sisterly love than a coach and an athlete. But she's an amazing athlete, hard-working. I'll say she's my replicant in terms of work ethics. She never misses a [training] session. She's a go-getter, she's very hungry, and she's been doing well since she joined us. We've smashed multiple records. We're looking forward to the next four years to see where we end up. But the relationship is beautiful,” Semenya told SportsBoom.co.za.

“I think the most important part about athletics is to be consistent, make sure that she understands her body."

“That's what we've tried to instil in her for the last three years. Now at least she's getting it. She's starting to understand how her body operates. She knows when to rest, when to push."

“This year, of course, we have the World Half as the main focus, and then we'll see after that.”

Semenya's Inspiring Journey to Self-Love and Understanding

While juggling her new coaching career and court battles, Semenya has also put out a new book simply entitled: Caster Semenya - The Race to Be Myself. The first line of the book reads: “For those who are born different and feel they don't belong in this world, it is because you are brought here to help create a new one.”

On her book, Semenya explained: "My book is a story of my life. It starts from my childhood to getting into my other roots. Where obviously I explain how I grew up."

“My childhood in terms of understanding my differences and obviously embracing it. Things more for self-love but also educating people of the world to say look, we don't have to judge people, we don't have to discriminate them. But we have to start appreciating and start understanding what humility is.”

From Rio Gold to Berlin Glory

Looking back at her career though, Semenya was in no doubt about her gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016 being the highlight. Though she also claimed gold at the London Olympics, it was only years later after Mariya Savinova was stripped of her first place for doping.

“2016 is one of the highlights of my career. It's one of the best years that I've ever had. But credit goes to my team. I had a very great support structure. But then we have to understand that I was self-coached."

“Of course, it's a different feeling. Climbing a podium as a silver medalist and then being upgraded. But winning your actual gold, there's nothing that can beat that. There's a great feeling and it’s fulfilling. I still hold it as one of the best moments. The second one is to be in Berlin [the venue for her first World Championship gold in 2009].”

As a coach now, Semenya is able to appreciate the considerable effect her mentors also had on her career.

“I only had coach [Hezekiel] Zepeng as a pacemaker. So I think it was a good combination where I came and learned through that. It was beautifully done."

“Having a good physio and having my partner by my side. And then Jean Verster coming in as a mentor. It was beautiful."

“I had a good relationship with Maria [Mutola] before that. That played a vital role for me to start understanding. Moving from Michael Seme to Maria Mutola and then to Jean, before I had to decide: Let me do my own programs and get someone as a pacer."