Double Olympic champion in the 800 meters Caster Semenya unsuccessfully performed a new distance for herself in 5000 meters at the World Championships in Athletics in Eugene.
The 31-year-old South African competed in the world championship for the first time in five years.
Semenya finished 13th in the first of two semi-finals with a time of 15 minutes 46.12 seconds, more than 45 seconds from 15th overall and last qualifying spot. In 2021, the runner had not qualified in this discipline for the Tokyo Games. The best result (14 minutes 52.27 seconds) in the preliminary races over 5000 meters at the current World Championships was achieved by Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey.
“It was hot, I couldn’t keep up, I tried to hold on as best I could, but you know, that’s part of the game. I think it’s great to be able to run here. The fact that I was able to complete the 5k is a blessing for me. I am learning and I want to learn even more,” Semenya said after the finish, quoted by The news sow .
The South African last competed at the World Championships in London in 2017, where she won the third gold medal in the 800 meters. A year later, she won gold medals in the 800 and 1,500 meters at the Commonwealth Games.
Semenya has been forced to switch from her favorite distances to longer distances due to World Athletics rules that limit testosterone levels for participants in female races at distances of 400 to 1,500 meters. Since April 2018, Semenya could compete in the previous disciplines, reducing the natural level of the male hormone with the help of drugs, but she refused to do so. Semenya did not defend his position in court.
Source : MatchTV
