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The double not 'pap en vleis' - Caster

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Caster Semenya (Getty Images)
Caster Semenya (Getty Images)

Cape Town - South African middle distance queen Caster Semenya left the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London with two medals, but she acknowledges it was no easy feat.

Semenya won bronze in the women's 1 500m final and then gold in the 800m on Sunday, but she took to Facebook after winning her second world championship to confirm it was her greatest achievement to date. 

"Doubling events is not 'pap en vleis'," Semenya wrote. 

Semenya, who was forced to deal with more social media controversy over the weekend following British columnist Katie Hopkins' rant that she should not be competing against women due to her high testosterone levels, then thanked her supporters in South Africa.

"Thank you my fellow country mates and everyone around the world supporting and rooting for me," she wrote.

"Your support is highly appreciated.

"Completing the World Championship with a bronze and gold is by far my greatest achievement."

Semenya said on Sunday that breaking the 34-year-old world record in the 800m - the longest standing record in athletics (1:53.28) held by former Czechoslovakian Jarmila Kratochvílová - was possible but that it was not in her immediate plans.

Semenya ran a personal best time - and a new South African record - of 1:55:16 in winning the 800m gold in London.

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