Welcome to the New Statesman website. Please sign in or register to participate in the conversation.

50 people that matter 2010 | 50. Caster Semenya

Intersex symbol.

Caster Semenya became world 800m champion at 18.

Rather than adulation and sponsorship deals, her victory led to a ban, invasive medical examinations and a flurry of media reports that she had both male and female sexual characteristics.

Semenya unintentionally instigated an international and often ill-tempered debate on gender politics, feminism and race, becoming an inspiration to gender campaigners around the world.

This summer, she returned to the track at a small meet in Finland and did what provoked the controversy in the first place - she won.

 

Previous: 49. Paul Kagame

Back to list

1 comment

Richard Cummings's picture

This is a stupid list. Period. Mike Bloomberg, worth $18 billion, founder of Bloomberg News and mayor of New York belongs on this list. His omission is startlng. John Thune is much more important than Sarah Palin. One could go on, but what's the point?

Post new comment

By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.

Latest tweets