Cape Town - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a warm, heartfelt message of support to Caster Semenya.
Semenya, the two-time 800m Olympic champions, is this week appealing a decision from the IAAF at the Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
The proposed IAAF ruling would see Semenya forced to lower her natural testosterone levels if she wants to keep competing in women's athletics.
Her appeal at the CAS is a groundbreaking moment in the history of sport, and Semenya has received overwhelming support from South Africans throughout the week.
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa added his voice to the conversation.
"Mokgadi. Champion. Beacon of hope. My daughter. This is only to remind you of your greatness; because you constantly remind us that nothing beats the enduring power of the human spirit," he tweeted.
"You may run alone on the track, but know now that you run with 57 million & more."
Semenya was entering the third day of her appeal on Wednesday.
@Caster800m Mokgadi. Champion. Beacon of hope. My daughter. This is only to remind you of your greatness; because you constantly remind us that nothing beats the enduring power of the human spirit. You may run alone on the track, but know now that you run with 57 million & more. pic.twitter.com/hnyHJgWfhV
— President Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 19, 2019
How much of a runner are you?
