Wilhelm de Swardt

Cape Town - Michael Seme knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Caster Semenya, South Africa’s top-notch 800m athlete, is most certainly a woman.

GALLERY: Caster Semenya

VIDEO: Caster Semenya interviewed

”If there’s one person who should know, then it’s me, because as her coach, I work with her pretty much every single day.”

Seme laughed off rumours that the Australian media claiming that Semenya is actually a man and that the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) should've barred her from taking part in Wednesday night’s 800m final at the World Championships in Berlin which Semenya won in stunning fashion, claiming gold for SA.

”This wasn’t the first time that Caster has heard rumours she’s a man. Practically every afternoon when we practice, the younger athletes ask her if she’s a boy when they talk to her.

”Then she has to explain that she can’t help the fact that her voice is so gruff and that she really is a girl.

”The remarkable thing is that Caster remains completely calm and never loses her dignity when she is questioned about her gender. There were a few times when she was quite crudely humiliated. The closest she’s come to getting angry was earlier this year when we were on our way to the South African Championships as part of the Northern Gauteng athletics team, and stopped at a fuel station. The people there didn’t want her to use the ladies’ restrooms, claiming she looked like a man.

”Then Castor said: 'Do you want me to pull down my pants so you can see?’.”

Those same people came to her later and said they were extremely sorry.”

Regarding where the Australian media got their story from, Molatelo Malehopo, executive head of Athletics South Africa (ASA) said he has no idea.

In his opinion it might be a case of sour grapes.

”I think the Australians are bitter because South Africa beat them (recently) at rugby and cricket. It’s not the first time, as far as sport is concerned, that the Australian media have tried to put South Africa in a bad light.

”Remember how the Australian media made such a big furore about the fact that South Africa would not be ready for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and that FIFA should have a Plan B since it might be necessary to move the tournament to another country.

”As it turned out, the story was absolute rubbish.”

As far as Semenya’s appearance is concerned, Malehopo said he wishes people would stop judging others based only their outward appearance.

”I’m sure that if Caster could choose she would want to look more feminine, but none of us have a choice about how we look when we’re born.”