Jake: About a boy

Olympic equality

One of the uglier moments of the recently completed Olympics in Rio was the row over South African runner Caster Semenya. Specifically protestations by many that the abnormal levels of testosterone found in her body compared to her fellow female competitors gave her an unfair advantage on her way to the 400m gold medal.

The clue’s in the name. It’s natural

Much of the commentariat has been quick to highlight the arguments of both sides of the debate, but to me it’s clear as day. The chemicals that make up both the physiology and mentality of Caster Semenya are in just the right balance to make her an unbeatable athlete. End of. Get over it. She didn’t ask for it, but when she realised she had it, she didn’t look back. She grafted, she refined, she weathered some of the most unjustified criticism ever levelled at any athlete in history. Natural talent isn’t some mysterious, ethereal force. The clue’s in the name. It’s natural. It’s biology. 

It’s just the same for the Paralympians who begin competing this week. These are people who have used their specific physicality to their advantage and become world class in their chosen sport. It just seems so hypocritical to on the one hand bemoan drug cheats for making competition artificial and on the other demand someone like Semenya take hormone suppressants to essentially change her body and make it fair. Precisely what is fair about that? It would be like asking Michael Phelps to make his legs shorter or asking Simone Biles to eat a 12-course banquet before her gymnastics floor routine.

Sport is beautiful because it’s our exemplar of human evolution. The strongest, fastest, most mentally strong people win. Overtime, as travel becomes even easier, genes merge and become stronger, athletes will get even better and sporting achievements will continue to move us and surpass our expectations. Marvellous isn’t it?