Sport
Former Olympic and world 800-meter Maria Mutola, to coach Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya (pictured), has a new coach in Olympic and world 800-meter champion Maria Mutola, pairing one of the great middle-distance runners with one of track and field’s most promising youngsters.
Semenya, a 20-year-old South African, had been coached by Michael Seme but the two have split. With Seme as coach, Semenya won an African junior title and then a startling victory as a teenager at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. At that time, she became embroiled in a gender-test controversy that led to an 11-month suspension.
Mutola has been playing semiprofessional soccer in South Africa since her retirement and will now guide Semenya’s preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
Semenya said Monday in a statement released to The Associated Press through her Finland-based agent that Mutola agreed to coach her soon after the recent world championships in South Korea. Semenya won the silver medal in her 800-meter title defense.
Semenya and Mutola share similar backgrounds, both emerging from impoverished backgrounds in southern Africa as young runners to win on the world stage.
“Maria has been my idol since I started to run,” Semenya said. “After Korea I was asking Maria if she is interested in coaching me. Her answer was positive and I am very happy now.”
“Maria has had a long and super successful career,” Semenya added. “She will be a great teacher for me.”
