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Version 3 | Version 4 |
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'We know Semenya is a girl' | 'We know Semenya is a girl' |
(3 days later) | |
Caster Semenya's family is proud of her achievements By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Masehlong | Caster Semenya's family is proud of her achievements By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Masehlong |
In Caster Semenya's remote home village of Masehlong in northern South Africa, people have no doubt about the gender of the new 800m world champion. | In Caster Semenya's remote home village of Masehlong in northern South Africa, people have no doubt about the gender of the new 800m world champion. |
The first comment came before we had got out of the car. | The first comment came before we had got out of the car. |
"Caster's a woman," a middle-aged lady called out with a smile. "We know it here," she continued. | "Caster's a woman," a middle-aged lady called out with a smile. "We know it here," she continued. |
Several thousand people live here - but with the action from Berlin only available on satellite television, the residents have been cramming into a handful of lucky houses to see Ms Semenya run. | Several thousand people live here - but with the action from Berlin only available on satellite television, the residents have been cramming into a handful of lucky houses to see Ms Semenya run. |
"When she won we danced like we could grab the moon and bring it down," local councillor Alphius Makogobe Mpati recounts with a twinkle in his eye. | |
"We are so proud of her here." | "We are so proud of her here." |
Dorcus Semenya: "It's my girl... I gave birth to that girl" | Dorcus Semenya: "It's my girl... I gave birth to that girl" |
The compound Ms Semenya shares with her parents, brother and five sisters is on the main dirt street. | The compound Ms Semenya shares with her parents, brother and five sisters is on the main dirt street. |
Her family also produced her birth certificate, which unambiguously classifies her as female. | Her family also produced her birth certificate, which unambiguously classifies her as female. |
Success has come quickly for the runner and the three buildings - one a thatched dome - are no different from any of the others in Masehlong, where she was raised. | Success has come quickly for the runner and the three buildings - one a thatched dome - are no different from any of the others in Masehlong, where she was raised. |
Electricity has been recently provided but water comes from a communal tap several hundred metres away. | Electricity has been recently provided but water comes from a communal tap several hundred metres away. |
Delicate question | Delicate question |
In the street just outside a group of women is discussing the latest edition of the tabloid newspaper The Daily Sun. | In the street just outside a group of women is discussing the latest edition of the tabloid newspaper The Daily Sun. |
Her birth certificate is unambiguous | Her birth certificate is unambiguous |
It is not sympathetic. | It is not sympathetic. |
Prove You Are Not A Boy is the headline, alongside a picture of Ms Semenya after she won gold - sitting with her legs apart. | Prove You Are Not A Boy is the headline, alongside a picture of Ms Semenya after she won gold - sitting with her legs apart. |
"Go and tell the media that you are liars," one woman said. | "Go and tell the media that you are liars," one woman said. |
"We won't buy your newspapers. We should be proud of her because she is South African but right now they are demolishing her." | "We won't buy your newspapers. We should be proud of her because she is South African but right now they are demolishing her." |
Her mother Dorcus Semenya is training to be a care worker. | Her mother Dorcus Semenya is training to be a care worker. |
'No doubt' | 'No doubt' |
So we met up with her 65km (40 miles) away on the outskirts of the regional capital Polokwane. | So we met up with her 65km (40 miles) away on the outskirts of the regional capital Polokwane. |
She is apparently unfazed by the controversy - she smiled and laughed as I tried to delicately get to the bottom of it. | She is apparently unfazed by the controversy - she smiled and laughed as I tried to delicately get to the bottom of it. |
The complexities of sexual identity Uniting behind gender row athlete Semenya 'almost boycotted medal' | The complexities of sexual identity Uniting behind gender row athlete Semenya 'almost boycotted medal' |
"I've no doubt about what I see. It's my girl," she says. | "I've no doubt about what I see. It's my girl," she says. |
"She comes from me. I gave birth to that girl, she came from my womb." | "She comes from me. I gave birth to that girl, she came from my womb." |
The other women at the training centre were more upset. | The other women at the training centre were more upset. |
"The problem is they're jealous because she's South African and a black woman," one said. | "The problem is they're jealous because she's South African and a black woman," one said. |
Another, a neighbour of the Semenyas, drew a roar of laughter from the centre. | Another, a neighbour of the Semenyas, drew a roar of laughter from the centre. |
"She played with my girl. I've got no doubts. She wears panties." | "She played with my girl. I've got no doubts. She wears panties." |
Back in Masehlong - a team-mate of hers from the village football team was explaining her value to the (otherwise all-male) side. | Back in Masehlong - a team-mate of hers from the village football team was explaining her value to the (otherwise all-male) side. |
"She was our number seven - the striker and she was so quick," said cattle herder Phillip Ponyane Rammabi. | "She was our number seven - the striker and she was so quick," said cattle herder Phillip Ponyane Rammabi. |
"She'd score two goals every game." | "She'd score two goals every game." |