When you’re born to do it. Just do it.

Caster Semenya. You know her name. You know her story. When you think of her you think of greatness and strength both on and off track. With 18 gold medals to her name, she continues to push boundaries. She continues to rise and conquer.

The Nike advert shows Caster Semenya’s journey to becoming the elite star that she is today. It showcases what seems to be the defining moments that got her to where she is today. Following the recent debate against Caster Semenya, as well as the questioning of her “unfair” advantage, Nike released this advert. It’s based on the discriminatory decision made by the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) where they stated that she would no longer be able to participate in female athletics, unless medication is taken to lower her testosterone levels.

“Will it be easier for you if I wasn’t so fast? Will it be simpler if I stop winning? Would you be more comfortable if I was less proud?”

-Semenya’s response, in her Nike Advert, to the ongoing debate around her genetic advantage.

For years Caster Semenya has been scrutinised by the public, fellow sportsmen and even the sporting federations that oversee these sporting events. So in essence, by the world. This is not to say that she has not had the support of many from day one. In this day and age (especially) no one showed be questioned and publically humiliated to the extent that she has been, because of their gender. Yet, she has. Repeatedly. She, however, has held her ground and not let the words of others affect her. I find this to be the truest of character of any sportsman.

“We have been given life, but no one can live it for you — you have to go out every day and work hard to earn it.”

As a result of the decisions made in poor taste, the Olympics has banned Caster Semenya from their events. This is because competitors, like Lynsey Sharp, are tired of losing to her. If you know who she is, you will know that she has never even come close to matching Semenya’s time when running against her. We are not just talking about maybe coming second or third because then I could understand her “sadness” (I guess). We are talking about coming sixth and sometimes even ninth when competing against her. Like, what? You’re not even close. Please take your bad sportsmanship somewhere else.

So if Semenya produces testosterone (which all women produce btw) then suddenly she can no longer participate in the sport simply because she is better than everyone else? Naturally. Genetically. To top it all off the IAAF have suggested that if she refuses to take medication, she can opt for running in male athletic events. Again, what?

You are asking someone to remove the trait that makes them faster than everyone else, in a sport that is based on speed? To make others feel or look better? Do better. Please. The way we see approach and deal with these kinds of issues needs to be altered. We live in a day and age where we are accepting of men who have transformed into women and women who identify as men, yet cannot accept the way that someone was born?

This then begs the question: has this got to do with Caster Semenya’s race?