South Africans taunt British runner for coming in last
South Africans today heaped misery on British runner Lynsey Sharp for finishing in last place behind gender-row athlete.
The Scottish finalist has not been forgiven by Caster Semenya’s loyal fans for giving a tearful interview to complain that the South African’s historic victory at last year’s Olympics was ‘unfair’ due to her unnaturally high levels of testosterone.
Sharp crossed the finish line of last night’s 800m final more than three seconds after Semenya, who beat her personal in front of a capacity crowd at the London Stadium.
The 26 year-old gold medallist’s supporters showed the Dumfries runner no mercy by launching a stream of cruel and gloating tweets, posts and memes about her position at the bottom of the results table.
The Scottish finalist has not been forgiven by Semenya’s loyal fans for saying the South African’s historic victory at last year’s Olympics was ‘unfair’ due to her unnaturally high levels of testosterone
Sharp and Semenya embrace after the South African's victory in the final of the women's 800m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships
Sharp crossed the finish line of last night’s 800m final more than three seconds after Semenya, who beat her personal in front of a capacity crowd at the London Stadium
For many commentators, Sharp coming last provoked even more celebration than their heroine’s victory.
‘What excuses and tears will she have for coming 8th,’ asked tweeter Vynl Heaven, ‘I await her blubbering interview.’ #loser #LynseySharp
JJ gloated, ‘Lynsey Sharp finishing last to Caster Semenya is like a gold medal to me.’
For many commentators, Sharp coming last provoked even more celebration than their heroine’s victory.
Even South Africa’s respected high-brow newspaper the Mail & Guardian could not resist a dig at the British girl, tweeting, ‘If it wasn’t for Caster, Lynsey Sharp would have finished 7th. One lick of the mediocrity lollipop and you’ll suck forever.’
Last night’s middle-distance event ended a bleak championship for 26 year-old Sharp, who was only allowed to compete in the 800m final after appealing her disqualification for pushing another runner in her qualifying heat.
In Rio last year, Sharp tearfully lamented that Semenya’s condition had resulted in ‘two separate races’ being run in the Olympic finals, prompting a furious backlash.
South Africa's Caster Semenya, center, races with Canada's Melissa Bishop, left, and Britain's Lynsey Sharp on her way to winning the gold in the final of the Women's 800m
Last night’s middle-distance event ended a bleak championship for 26 year-old Sharp, who was only allowed to compete in the 800m final after appealing her disqualification for pushing another runner in her qualifying heat
Semenya, who married her long term girlfriend last year, has been dogged by controversy since first becoming world champion in 2009, at the age of 18.
She was forced to undergo humiliating gender testing and was found to have an ‘intersex’ condition called hyperandrogenism which results in her having testosterone levels that are three times those usually found in women.
She has no womb or ovaries and instead, due to a chromosomal abnormality, internal testes.
Semenya spent 11 months on the sidelines while she had tests but was cleared to compete in 2010.
By this time the International Association of Athletics Federations had set a testosterone threshold.
Sharp crossed the finish line of last night’s 800m final more than three seconds after Semenya, who beat her personal in front of a capacity crowd at the London Stadium
It meant Semenya could run again if she took drugs to suppress her testosterone levels. The ruling was then challenged by Indian runner Dutee Chand, who also has hyperandrogenism.
In 2015, the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the rules for two years, meaning Semenya could come off the medication.
Now athletics' world governing body, the IAAF, wants to reinstate rules limiting how much testosterone female athletes can have in their bodies following research into hyperandrogenism.
Sports Science student Semenya has brushed off that development this championships, saying after winning 1500m bronze last week. 'I have no time for that. It's been like this since 2009.
‘For me, when you listen to music and have one song playing each and every time... it's been almost nine years and it's quite boring. I have no time for that.'
IAAF president Sebastian Coe has also expressed the need to tread carefully, saying: 'We don't want to turn this into a witch hunt or demonising athletes.'