Caster - no easy answers
HAVE in previous columns, discussed at length the Caster Semenya situation and I still honestly can’t say either way what should be done. While some people say quite categorically that she has every right to participate in the women’s 800m events and that she is doing nothing wrong.
On the flip side, I could also say that if I were an 800m athlete competing against Caster Semenya, I would think she has an unfair advantage – because she is currently so good, which means that essentially the entire 800m women’s field is fighting for silver and bronze. If we go strictly by the rules, there should be no debate about Caster Semenya, and yet this young woman, who wants nothing more but to compete in the sport she loves, is subjected to intense scrutiny, debate and vitriol.
Sadly, the debate will never end, not for her, or for other athletes in similar circumstances, or for those coming through the ranks. It’s a tricky situation and there are no easy answers. But I do think that the IOC needs to adapt to the times we live in and accommodate all – that means having categories for male, female and intersex (describing variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones or genitals, that according to the UN Commission for Human Rights do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies) and in the future make provisions for transsexuals (those who medically transition from one sex to another).
SO ANOTHER Olympic Games has come and gone and I have to admit that the Rio edition was mostly underwhelming for me.
Yes, South Africa equalled its best ever haul of 10 medals, the world got to see our latest athletics superstar, Wayde van Niekerk, make history, and Usain Bolt achieved the triple triple, but there was also the dark cloud of doping looming over the Games, particularly with the inclusion of some Russian athletes, the Ryan Lochte “robbery” scandal and the ongoing Caster Semenya saga.
As with all other Olympic Games, we watched super athletes doing what they do best, and luckily we weren’t inundated with stories about the Zika virus, drugs and crime in Rio, or the dismal state of facilities and affairs in Brazil as a whole. Rio successfully hosted the Olympics, a great achievement if you consider how much doubt there was in the build-up to the Games.
JUST two games into the new season, and I’m happy to report that Manchester United is back – early days indeed, but the hallmark traits are back – winners/winning, the fear factor, confidence, passion and fight.
Jose Mourinho should have followed on from Fergie but in a way I’m glad he didn’t – United really appreciates what he brings, along with the star-studded signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Henrik Mkhitaryan, so even if there is a dip, it won’t be nearly as painful and discouraging as the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal era was.
I’ve been saying since the end of last season that 2016/2017 is going to be a cracker, with the introduction of Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte, who will be doing battle with the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Arsene Wenger, Claudio Ranieri and Mauricio Pochettino, and after just two games, these managers have all EPL fans salivating in anticipation.
Well, all besides Arsene Wenger perhaps! I don’t understand what Wenger’s plan or target is for the season, but if he does not make some quality buys before the transfer window closes, then top four might just be out of his reach come May 2017.
MOTOGP yet again dished up an exhilarating round of action from the Czech Republic with the most unpredictable results yet.
After the first two laps, I thought that Valentino Rossi had made a really bad call with regard to his tyre choices – he just kept dropping down the order. But after all these years of watching The Doctor in action, I should have known better.
First it was Cal Crutchlow storming his way from 10th to fighting for the lead, and a short while later it was the turn of Rossi to power his way from 9th to second. Crutchlow and Rossi were brilliant in wet conditions and their tyre choices that didn’t pay dividends at first ultimately saw them clinch first and second respectively. Hats off to Crutchlow for being the first local rider to win Britain’s MotoGP in 35 years.