Caster a triple winner at SA Sports Awards

Olympic gold-medallist Caster Semenya has bagged a whopping three awards at this year’s SA Sports Awards. The awards, which took place at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein on Sunday night, include sports star of the year, sportswoman of the year and the people’s choice award.

The annual awards saw Semenya, who is also in the running for the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award, clinching numerous awards, including the the People’s Choice sports star of the year award, which is determined by the public.

The Ga-Masehlong-born Semenya has dominated the 800m, bringing home medals in the Commonwealth Games in April, the African Championships in August, as well as the Diamond League final and Continental Cup in September.

The 2018 South African Sport Awards took place at Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein on November 11 2018. Picture: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

The red carpet at the entrance of the Sand du Plessis Theatre, where the 2018 South African Sport Awards were held. Picture: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

Semenya’s trainer, Samuel Sepeng, received the awards on her behalf because she was not present. Sepeng also walked away with the coach of the year award. The sportsman of the year award went to Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos.

Coach Samuel Sepeng received the sports star of the year and the peoples choice award on behalf of Caster Semenya during the 2018 South African Sport Awards in Bloemfontein. Picture: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

Semenya, who had faced harsh criticism from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) following a proposal that targeted athletes with hyperandrogenism – a medical condition where there is an excess of testosterone in a women’s body – has been fighting hard against the ruling.

Tokozile Xasa, minister of sport and recreation, during the 2018 South African Sport Awards at Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein. Picture: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

Speaking at the Discovery Leadership Summit that took place on November 1, Semenya said that the fight against the IAAF, which was forcing athletes to reduce their naturally occurring hormones if they wanted to compete, was not just about her but about future generations.

Banyana-Banyana was named as team of the year during the 2018 South African Sport Awards in Bloemfontein. Picture: by Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

“Fighting the IAAF isn’t about me. I’m a world champ‚ Commonwealth Games champ‚ Africa champ. The fight is about the upcoming young girls who would have the same problem as me‚” she said.

Semenya is set to challenge the testosterone regulation at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Geneva at the end of February.