Caster Semenya Finishes Season with PB. And Now It’s “Eat, Sleep and Study”
As South Africans tweeted their congratulations to Caster Semenya, who pulled off an extraordinary victory in the women’s 400m at the Brussels’ Diamond League meeting on Friday, the Olympic 800m gold medallist said now it’s time to “eat, sleep and study”. Semenya finished her season recording a personal best of 50.40 for the win that […]
As South Africans tweeted their congratulations to Caster Semenya, who pulled off an extraordinary victory in the women’s 400m at the Brussels’ Diamond League meeting on Friday, the Olympic 800m gold medallist said now it’s time to “eat, sleep and study”.
Semenya finished her season recording a personal best of 50.40 for the win that looked completely out of question after the first half of the race.
‘It’s fantastic!’ said Semenya. ‘This is suicide! The 800m is much better, the 400m I do for speed.’
The South African judged her finish to perfection to see off Courtney Okolo and a threatening pack of Rio finalists led by Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medallist Shericka Jackson.
Outgoing Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela said: “Congratulations @caster800m on winning spectacularly in the #DiamondLeague. You carry the hopes of many young people.”
Fellow Olympic Gold athlete Wayde van Niekerk tweeted: “How dope was that 400m of @caster800m? That was insane… great season homie”
And South African Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula said: “Caster continues to make us very proud. @caster800m congratulations on yet another win.”
Semenya herself tweeted this morning: “Officially off season. Thank you SOUTH AFRICA, AFRICA, THE WORLD, NIKE AND WIPHOLD, MY TEAM. I SULUTE YOU ALL MUCH LOVE #COBRA YOU THE BEST.”
Semenya is now off to eat, sleep and study at the University of Pretoria, where she is a sports science student.
Hey.. Good to hear from you. Yes I'm off now.. It's eat. Sleep an study now
— Caster Semenya (@MightyCaster) September 10, 2016
https://youtu.be/-gYtroV6i3A
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Semenya’s compatriot, Luvo Manyonga, took the honours in the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.48m.
Jamaica’s double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson, meanwhile, brought the curtain down on a spectacular season with her 12th straight 100m victory.
Ethiopian Almaz Ayana fell short in her bid to break compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba’s world 5 000m record of 14:11.15 set in Oslo in 2008.
– See more at: http://www.sascoc.co.za/2016/09/10/semenya-sets-pb-in-400m-victory/