South African Semenya blocking out critics

South Africa’s Caster Semenya said she has blocked out the controversy surrounding her bid for Olympic gold after powering into the 800m final.

The 25-year-old continues to divide opinion in the athletics world because of her condition, hyperandrogenism, which causes elevated testosterone levels.

Some rivals have called for authorities to revisit rules aimed at setting limits for testosterone, claiming Semenya’s rare physiology gives her an unfair advantage.

But a sports court last year tossed out an International Association of Athletics Federations rule aimed at curbing her advantage, allowing Semenya to dominate her event.

It has left Semenya the heavy favourite to take gold in Rio, a victory certain to cause controversy in some quarters.

Semenya however shrugged off the controversy on Thursday after producing a late surge over the final 200 metres to advance from her semi-finals 1min 58.15sec at the Olympic Stadium ahead of Britain’s Lynsey Sharp.

“I’m not focused on people, just on my race,” Semenya replied when asked about her critics.

“At the end of the day it’s not about people, it’s about you — it’s you up against the world.”

Semenya’s form this year has fuelled speculation that Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 33-year-old world record could be in jeopardy at Saturday’s final.

However Semenya said she is not thinking about a new world best.

“I’m not focusing on the world record. The focus is to go home with the gold medal,” she said.

In the other semi-finals on Thursday, Poland’s Joanna Jozwik won her semi in 1:58.93 ahead of 2015 World Championship silver medallist Melissa Bishop of Canada, second in 1:59.05.

Kenya’s Margaret Wambui and Francine Niyonsaba grabbed the automatic qualifying spots from the first semi.

“It was a bit tough but I told myself to put in a bit more effort than yesterday and I just relaxed,” said Wambui.

“I wanted to make sure I was in a position to qualify for the final,” the Kenyan added.