An Olympic silver will do for now, for Semenya

Caster Semenya knew she had blown it by starting out too slowly

in her first Olympic final.

She knew her coach was going to criticize her. Based on her

experience over the last three, difficult years, she also expected

some unkind speculation about her performance in the 800

meters.

But she cherished her silver medal all the same. Three years

after being forced to undergo gender tests after winning the world

title in a stunningly fast 1 minute, 55.45 seconds at age 18,

Semenya can introduce herself as an Olympic medalist.

Semenya was sidelined for nearly a year while track and field’s

governing body decided whether to allow her to compete. She was

tested and eventually cleared to return to action in 2010, then was

the runner-up at last year’s world championships.

She came to the London Games as a leading medal contender in the

800 and was even given the honor of carrying South Africa’s flag

into the opening ceremony.

She slipped into last place at the start of the final and, even

after a fast finishing kick from 250 meters out, was too late to

catch world champion Mariya Savinova, who clocked 1:56.19 to win

gold.

”Unfortunately it was too late. I’m happy with the silver but I

know the coach (Maria Mutola) is not really happy,” Semenya said.

”I tried hard to get back but the body wasn’t really on fire

today. But I had to fight.”

It wasn’t her plan to trail at the back, but she didn’t panic

when she found herself in trouble.

”It doesn’t matter if you’re back or front,” she said. ”What

matters is how you finish your race.”

That’s not how some critics saw it. One TV pundit speculated

Semenya didn’t go all out for gold because she didn’t want to

create any controversy.

Semenya bristled when the question was put to her later.

”The plan was, like I said, to win a gold,” she said. ”I just

made a mistake. A late kick.”

Semenya doesn’t put much importance on what is written or said

about her by people outside her support network, something she had

to learn the hard way. It seemed nothing was off limits when her

intimate details were being debated and discussed in the world

media before she was cleared to return to competition.

Now she has Mutola, who retired in 2008 with an Olympic gold

medal and three world titles to her credit, in her corner. And on

Saturday night, her parents, Jacob and Dorcas, were on hand for the

first time to watch her compete at a major international meet.

The 80,000-seat stadium, packed with people cheering loudly on a

night when Usain Bolt helped Jamaica set a world record in the

4×100-meter relay, had to be daunting for the couple from a small,

rural village in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province. Judging

by the way she started, it was also daunting for their daughter.

But the way she finished was more impressive.

”For me, I feel very happy. I know my parents are waiting for

me, out there watching me,” Semenya said. ”I just have to make

them proud.”

Semenya finished a second behind Savinova, who also beat her at

last year’s world championships in Daegu. But her time of 1:57.23

was her best this season.

She flexed her arms in a muscular pose when her time flashed up

on the screen. Then she ran around the track with a South African

flag until she was stopped by an official near the start for the

100 meters – there was a medal presentation going on for the

women’s hammer.

Not long after, it was her turn to step onto the podium. After

being presented with her medal, she flashed a big smile.

”I feel very proud,” she said. ”Yes, I feel confident. I know

I haven’t had too good a season the previous two years but I think

we’re getting there now.

”I’m very happy with silver at my first Olympics. Back on the

podium. For me it’s a successful career.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Lamine Diack, the president of the

international athletics federation, was asked about Semenya’s

career since her return from her tumultuous break.

”She’s carried on. We’ve worked together on the problems she’s

had, and tried to find solutions,” Diack said. ”And now she’s at

the world level and trying to beat the others. I think she’s doing

all she can to win. This is now the life she’s living – she’s an

athlete competing like any other.”

Sebastian Coe, a British distance running great and the leader

of the organizing committee for the London Games, was warmer in his

recognition of Semenya, saying he was impressed with her

commitment.

”She’s a phenomenal runner,” Coe said. ”She’s committed to

her sport, and she brings great dignity to it.”

Now 21 and without any impediments to competition, Semenya knows

her Olympic destiny is in her hands.

”For now, I just have to concentrate so I can win the next

Olympics,” she said. ”I see a pretty good future.”

Together with Mutola, she said: ”We just have to focus on the

career and forget about the past.”

”I think we’re going to be better in the future,” she said.

”That’s what I will say for now.”

—

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray contributed to this report.