A praise poem for SA’s golden girl

"Caster is Mokgadi" was written by Jackie Mondi who got the thumbs up from the phenomenal athlete herself.

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When Caster Semenya, the 25-year-old 800-metre phenomenon, takes on the world on Wednesday afternoon in Brazil, it will not be without tension and controversy.

In the lead up to Rio 2016, Semenya's competitors attempted to cast doubt on the fairness of the South African competing. This, despite the medical go-ahead for Semenya to compete, clearing her of hormonal levels that would give her an upper hand in her races.

More recently - on Tuesday - men's online magazine Sports Illustrated, best known for it's calendar of bikini-clad female models, again raised the topic of the fairness of Semenya competing. In light of this and the obvious kick back by South Africans who would not let the SI article circulate unchallenged (see #HandsOffCaster), poet Jackie Mondi's praise piece for Semenya comes at just the right time - and appropriately before the athlete hits the track and goes for gold.

Here it is, published here on IOL moments after the official release by Semenya - who approved the poem herself - on her social media feeds:

Caster is Mokgadi

 Did you know that Mokgadi means girl among boys?

Did you know that Mokgadi is her birth name?

Her name is Mokgadi, the girl child

Caster is Mokgadi

But, because you can't run faster than she can

And you are whiter than she is

And you are smaller than she is

And you are weaker than she is

You say she is not a woman?

She is Mokgadi, the girl child

And, because she runs faster than you

And she is darker than you

And she is bigger than you

And she is stronger than you

We say she is a human being.

We call her Mokgadi, the girl child

So, now that you know it is not up to you

And your little checklist

Watch as she runs

And tick the right boxes

Strong, tick

Fast, tick

African, tick

Woman, tick

Champion, tick

Finally, say it with me

Caster is Mokgadi

- by Jackie Mondi

IOL