Semenya to carry South Africa's flag at Olympics
Source: AFP |
July 20, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CASTER Semenya will carry South Africa's flag at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.
Semenya was given the honor on Wednesday ahead of double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius.
"It's such a privilege for me to do such a big thing like that," Semenya said in an audio message.
"To carry the flag for the team, it's such a big thing."
Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh and long jumper Khotso Mokoena also were considered for the role, the country's Olympic committee said, but Semenya was the "ideal choice."
The 21-year-old Semenya will carry the flag at next Friday's opening ceremony in her first Olympics, three years after she was embroiled in a gender-test controversy that threatened her career and sidelined her from competition for nearly a year.
South African Olympic committee chief executive Tubby Reddy said his body also had considered 400-meter runner Pistorius, who is set to make history as the first amputee runner at the Olympics after being named as a last-minute addition to South Africa's team this month.
Natalie du Toit, an Olympic swimmer who lost her left leg in a motor scooter accident, carried South Africa's flag at the 2008 Beijing Games and that year's Paralympics.
Semenya was given the honor on Wednesday ahead of double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius.
"It's such a privilege for me to do such a big thing like that," Semenya said in an audio message.
"To carry the flag for the team, it's such a big thing."
Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh and long jumper Khotso Mokoena also were considered for the role, the country's Olympic committee said, but Semenya was the "ideal choice."
The 21-year-old Semenya will carry the flag at next Friday's opening ceremony in her first Olympics, three years after she was embroiled in a gender-test controversy that threatened her career and sidelined her from competition for nearly a year.
South African Olympic committee chief executive Tubby Reddy said his body also had considered 400-meter runner Pistorius, who is set to make history as the first amputee runner at the Olympics after being named as a last-minute addition to South Africa's team this month.
Natalie du Toit, an Olympic swimmer who lost her left leg in a motor scooter accident, carried South Africa's flag at the 2008 Beijing Games and that year's Paralympics.
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