Semenya grew up in a rural village in South Africa, living with her grandmother, who begged friends and family for money to send a young Semenya to local athletic events. Many of the houses had no electricity or running water and were made from mud and thatch. Semenya developed her love of running through soccer training and running between villages.
How can someone who grew up in a privileged Western society like Australia, with access to education, housing, nutrition, healthcare and modern training and sport facilities, claim to be disadvantaged compared to Semenya?
In addition to Semenyas impoverished upbringing, she has to contend with the compounded indignity of racism, homophobia and sexism. Her rejection of Western femininity ideals and her sexuality undoubtedly instigated the scrutiny over her biology, with many questioning her sex and therefore her eligibility to race against fellow women. She therefore struggles to attract sponsorship.
To put Semenyas dominance of the 800 metres in perspective, she hasnt won every single race, with her personal best 800-metre time of 1:55:17 still shy of the World Record of 1:53:28. Semenyas gold medal winning time of 1:55:28 at the 2016 Rio Olympics would not have even beaten the slowest competitor in the Mens 800-metre event.
While Semenyas competitors complain about her unfair biology, they benefit from a level of privilege and freedom from scrutiny for which they show no appreciation. Semenya fights an uphill battle just to get onto the running track, for simply being born the way she is.
The degree of stigma and contempt Semenya faces must not only have a lasting impact on her confidence and well being, but must translate into a detrimental impact on her athletic performance.
However, I suspect its the determination and tenacity to overcome so many disadvantages that has made Semenya a world champion.
