The Life of Intersex Runner Caster Semenya

Brut America

Caster Semenya is an Olympic gold medalist — but she was recently barred from competing at the next IAAF World Athletics Championships because of her testosterone levels. This is her story.

Transcript

00:00I'm Kasta Semenya. I'm an athlete. I focus more on my future.

00:30I heard that at birth you were a boy.

00:41I have no idea about that thing because I never said it and I don't give a damn about it.

00:48There is a protocol. It's called the IOC's protocol, the Olympic Sport Protocol, on gender verification.

01:03And that's why it's so rigorous and so important to do the tests and not to make quick judgments,

01:08quick decisions on someone looks like a man, therefore they must be a man.

01:38Life wasn't easy but I had to try to keep dealing with the situation.

01:44Now it's much better because competition-wise now I'm competing, training is coming,

01:50we're excited for the Olympics, so yeah, life is good.

02:08Being able to win a bronze medal in 1-5 is one of the things that I'll never forget.

02:36I can never forget it. It always sticks in my mind. I always watch those races time and again.

02:42It was just incredible.

02:52If I can be nominated for a Laureate's Award, I think it's one of the things that I'll say,

02:58OK, I've achieved my goal. It was a great feeling. It was overwhelming. I was so excited.

03:07Yeah, I was just over the moon.

03:28I'm not an idiot. Why would I take drugs? I'm a pure athlete. I don't cheat.

03:40They should focus on doping, not us. I make my own decisions, so I'm not going to change because of any man.

03:58I'm not going to change because of any man.

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