NEU » young player in the land a long way

RIO DE JANEIRO -- As Caster Semenya stood on the Olympic medal podium, the gold around her neck, the South African anthem playing, one was reminded of another opinion-changing person from her country: Nelson Mandela.Semenya doesnt have the anti-apartheid leaders oratory gifts. But like the father of modern South Africa who died in 2013, she is teaching the world -- not just sport, but the wider world that is moved by it -- about tolerance, about courage and about judging people not by how they look, but by what they do, how they do it and how they conduct themselves.Semenya does that by running. Running beautifully.Semenyas story shouldnt be any more complex than a celebration of the athleticism she displayed in winning the 800 meters at the Rio Games.But, of course, it is complex.This would usually the place for a paragraph about gender, about testosterone, about fairness or otherwise, about science and pseudo-science and plain old BS. In short, a paragraph that could not even begin to do justice to the injustice, the questions, the whispers, the doubts, the finger-pointing, the name-calling and Byzantine cruelty that Semenya has had to wade through since she announced herself to the world by winning the 800-meter world title as an 18-year-old in 2009.If, at this point, you dont know what were talking about, then lucky you, because it hasnt been pretty. Look it up, if you must.The short version is this: Like Mandela, she has risen above it all. Her dignity, like his, is both her shield and her weapon. He forced white South Africans to look at themselves. Eventually, they could no longer stomach what they saw. Semenya, too, has become a mirror: Those who judge her only by her looks, who have called her a half-man, or whatever, will eventually get sick of their own ugliness, their lack of compassion and basic humanity. Like Mandela, she has had to learn how to tune hatred out.Were not here to talk about some speculations, Semenya said. Its not about looking at people, how they look, how they speak, how they run. Its not about being muscular. Its all about sports.Perhaps the best bit about her Olympic gold was how it seemed, almost immediately, to bring her out of her shell. She has, understandably, always run from excruciatingly personal and intrusive questions about whether she was born with internal testes, no uterus and has high levels of testosterone -- in short, absurd questions about matters that are nobodys business but her own.But she isnt running any more. In Semenya, sport long thought it had a problem. But in the belly of Rios Olympic Stadium, sports instead got a new leader who preaches unity where, for too long in her case, there has been nothing but discord.Here I am, she told a large group of reporters, after avoiding questions all week. I just want to be the best I can be.You just need to lead by example, she added. Maybe, if people they just unite, it can be a great world.Amen to that.Slowly, Semenya seems to be winning over her rivals, too. They have mostly learned to keep their thoughts to themselves about whether their sport needs rules to somehow dial back the competitive advantage they perceive women like Semenya to have. Some of them arent happy. Semenyas winning time of 1 minute, 55.28 seconds was one of the top 20 times ever in the two-lap race. Rivals predicted that she would blow away the field. And she did. Burundis Francine Niyonsaba was more than one second behind in 1:56.49 for silver and Kenyas Margaret Wambui ran 1:56.89 for bronze.But this night, Semenyas night, was neither the time nor place for rivals to get into the debate about the need or otherwise for testosterone-limiting rules. That will soon be back in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It suspended the rules last year, judging that they were based on uncertain science. The International Association of Athletics Federations will be going back to the CAS in the next year to try to change its mind.Bottom-line: Semenya broke no rules.But is she breaking barriers.She said one of the first things she wanted to do was call her wife, Violet.I still have to make a long call, obviously, my wife is waiting, she said.After all Semenya has been through, the freedom she expressed on and off the Olympic track felt like a message to the world.All it must do now is listen.---John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicesterap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester . See his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/john-leicester---John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicesterap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester . 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Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place.D-Day has arrived for prospective AFL players around the country with the national draft to take place at Sydneys Hordern Pavillion on Friday evening.Essendon are expected to take Sandringhams Andrew McGrath or North Ballarats Hugh McCluggage with the top pick in one of the most even drafts in recent memory.The Bombers have decided who they will select with the No.1 pick of Fridays national draft but are keeping their choice a closely guarded secret.Barring a late change of heart, it is likely McGrath or McCluggage - both gun midfielders - will join John Worsfolds effort to propel this years wooden spooner back up the ladder in 2017.McGrath announced himself as a potential No.1 pick in a stunning season where he captained TAC Cup side Sandringham and school team Brighton Grammar to premierships and co-captained Vic Metro to a national championship.Obviously that pick carries a bit of weight and expectation but its a massive honour too, McGrath said.If the cards were to fall that way Id be really humbled and privileged to accept that responsibility.Hopefully Id take it with both hands and represent myself and my club in the best possible way.Both players have toured Essendons facilities in recent weeks but say they are none the wiser as to the Bombers intentions.Theyre keeping their lips shut pretty tight, McCluggage said.I dont think anyone has much of an idea. 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Weve seen the likes of Adam Goodes, Dane Swan, James Hird and Rory Sloane (go late) in years past.There have been some wonderful players and we think there are a bunch of players who could be taken down the back of this draft that will end up champions of the game, such is the depth of talent. ' ' '