Two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya joins South African football club JVW
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya has joined a South African women’s football club.
The 28-year-old, who won two 800-metre gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games, appears to have found a new career path.
Semenya is currently appealing against a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which approved the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) introduction of a new testosterone limit for female athletes.
And the South African has refused to take hormone-suppressing drugs, which is preventing her from defending her 800m world title in Doha later this month.
Semenya is training with women’s football club JVW, who are based in Gauteng, South Africa with a view to making her debut next season.
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She told the club’s website: “I am grateful for this opportunity and I appreciate the love and support I already get from the team.
“I am looking forward to this new journey, and hopefully I can contribute as much as I can to the club.”
This is not the first time an Olympic gold-winning athlete has crossed over to football.
Usain Bolt, the record holder for the fastest 100-metre time of 9.58 seconds, scored twice in a friendly for A-League club Central Coast Marines in Australia last year.
He was eventually offered a contract by the Mariners, but left in November after eight weeks with the club.
Speaking about Semenya’s arrival at JVW, club founder and South Africa captain Janine Van Wyk said: “I am absolutely honoured that out of all the other women’s clubs around the world, she has chosen JVW as the club where she would like to start showcasing her football skills.
“I welcomed her at her first training (session) with the team on Tuesday and was impressed to see that she definitely has all the fundamentals.”
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