Caster Semenya - 15th Edition Cover Icon

Celebrating 20 Years of Gender Empowerment With Our Cover Icon Catch Up

By Fiona Wakelin

My role is to become a voice for those who cannot speak out

In July 2025, The European Court of Human Rights, sitting as Grand Chamber, ruled that a Swiss court had not given Caster a fair trial regarding testosterone regulations and the Swiss were ordered to pay her R1.6-million for expenses.

The Grand Chamber were reviewing the case which concerned statutory requirements adopted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF, now World Athletics) requiring Caster to decrease her testosterone level below a certain threshold.

This has been a long battle – Caster has been unable to compete in her preferred 800m category since 2018 after refusing to take the drugs to reduce testosterone levels. She was Olympic 800m champion in 2012 and 2016 and world gold medallist in 2009, 2011 and 2017.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the verdict, Caster said: “This is bigger than we ever thought. I don’t think this is about competition. It’s about human rights. It’s about the protection of the athletes.

“My role is to become a voice for those who cannot speak out.” And Caster has done just that in her book “The race to be myself”, published in 2023.

These Words Appear On The Flyleaf:

“For those who are born different and feel they don’t belong in this world, it is because you were brought here to help create a new one”.

Caster's Message For Young Girls:

“You can achieve anything. Have passion, love and respect for yourself. Build your own empire – then you can create opportunities for others. For those who are born different and feel they don’t belong in this world, it is because you were brought here to help create a new one”

Here Are Some Of The Critics’ Reviews:

‘A compelling insight into her towering resilience and determination.’ Telegraph, Best Sports Books of 2023

‘A story which makes us all interrogate our humanity and the world we build with our actions every day.’ Trevor Noah

‘Her defiance bleeds onto the page.’ Elle

‘For sports lovers and avid readers alike, The Race to Be Myself is as illuminating as it is enjoyable.’ Gay Times

‘An inspirational tale; what it inspires is compassion.’ Guardian

‘Reading Semenya’s story, it’s impossible not to come to admire her.’ Telegraph

‘Her resilience is remarkable given what she faced, and her defiance surely saved her.’ i Newspaper

‘Told with candour, Semenya’s story reminds readers to treat all humans with dignity and that being different does not mean being wrong.’ Lit Hub