Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a South African middle-distance runner and 2016 Olympic gold medallist. Semenya won gold in the women’s 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships with a time of 1:55.45 and at the 2017 World Championships in her new personal best, 1:55.16. Semenya also won silver medals at the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics, both in the 800 metres. She was the winner of the gold medal in the 800 metre event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, it was announced that she had been subjected to gender testing. She was withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her to return to competition. In 2010, the British magazine New Statesman included Semenya in a list of “50 People That Matter 2010”.

In 2016, she got ranked among Avance Media’s 100 Most Influential Young South Africans.

In 2017, Semenya won the bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2017 World Championships held in London. She also won Gold in the women’s 800m.

In 2017 Africa Youth Awards named her among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans, an initiative instituted to promote African youth movements and achieving and also restoring excellence in the works of young people across Africa.