God made me the way I am, and I accept myself. I am who I am, and I'm proud of myself.
Caster Semenya
I'm the kind of person who doesn't really focus on more negativity. I'm a positive person, and I look at things in a positive way.
I really don't have time for nonsense.
I am a fighter. I never give up.
I am not a fake. I am natural. I am just being Caster. I don't want to be someone I don't want to be. I don't want to be someone people want me to be. I just want to be me. I was born like this. I don't want any changes.
I don't give a damn what people say about me. I like me the way I am, and who cares what other people say?
It's all about the hard work, knowing your strengths and weaknesses. You work on what you know you can do best. I have speed.
I have been subjected to unwarranted and invasive scrutiny of the most intimate and private details of my being.
It's always great to perform, make the podium, and yeah, gold, silver, and bronze, will also encourage other nations, Asia, America to do better.
I know how I look like. I know how I sound. I know how I walk. I'm just gonna be me. I do me, and you do you.
If I'm at my best, I feel I must win gold all the time.
Education is the key. If you are educated, nothing can defeat you.
I think sports are meant to unite people.
I want to give myself new challenges. I want to get better.
It's what my friends always tell me, that I'm a strong person and the best. But my head has to be clear before I run so nothing upsets me.
I think I have made a difference. I have meant a lot to my people. I have done well. They are proud of me. And that was the main focus. I was doing it for my people, the people who support me.
With each year I experience, I become more relaxed. I know now what is important to listen to and what to ignore. You only get that with age.
Athletics is athletics. When you do sport, you are gambling. You run, you win, you lose. It doesn't matter if you are competing or you are not competing.
I'd like to dress up more often and wear dresses, but I never get the chance. I'd also like to learn to do my own makeup.
I always felt a bit different. When I'm with boys, I feel comfortable. When I'm with girls, I catch feelings. It's not anything I can control.
I've always liked to be on my own, since I was young. I like the sound of a quiet place. It helps me focus.
I am a dreamer. And what I dream of is to become Olympic champion, world champion, world record holder.
I am of the firm view that there is no impediment to me competing in athletics competitions.
I am an athlete, and I focus more on the issues that concern me: training, perform, eat, sleep.
I've never bought my own clothes - my mum buys them for me.
When I am in that lane, and I hear, 'Caster Semenya from South Africa,' I always know I am doing it for my people. They love and support me, and I will always do them proud; I will always put them first. Without them, I am nothing.
I don't like fame, I prefer to have no profile. But this is not possible for me. This is what I do, so I just have to find a way of being comfortable with it.
Yes, I learned history at school; I know everything about apartheid. My dad, he bought the books about it, stuff like that. But I just move on with my life. It's completely different for me.
I am an athlete first and foremost, and it is vital for my competitiveness, my well being, and for my preparations for events during the European summer that I measure my performance against other athletes.
The way you were born is the way you were born. Nothing can change it. I've got a deep voice. I know. I might look tough, but what are you going to do? Do you think you can change it? No.
We are going to help the young talented athletes become world champions.
I could never give up athletics. Running is what I will always do. Even if, maybe, the authorities could have stopped me from running in 2009, they could not have stopped me in the fields. I would have carried on with my running; it doesn't matter. When I run I feel free, my mind is free.
How the hell can you change gender in the rural areas? I am a woman. We don't have good doctors; we are not rich to do such procedures.
I don't like fame; I prefer to have no profile. But this is not possible for me.
When you walk out of your apartment, you think about performing; you do not think about how your opponent looks. So I think the advice from me to everybody is just to go out there and have fun.
The thing I'm afraid of the most with the 800m is injuries. That's why I don't normally like to run in a group: I prefer to be in front, just in case someone pushes me with their spikes. I don't like stuff like that.
People are always asking me for pictures, signing autographs, everywhere I go. Before, it used to irritate me, but I've learned to handle the situation. I cannot run away unless I lock myself in my room and never go out.
Times don't matter but medals matter.
I think I make a difference. I mean a lot to my people. I've done well. They're proud of me.
I don't understand when you say I have an advantage because I am a woman.
I don't understand when you say I'm a man or I have a deep voice. I know I'm a female, so there's no question for me.
My family's support system is fantastic.
The field is fantastic, great runners, so the best you can do is stay in control, pace yourself well, and then utilise it when you can do better.
We all know that we Africans just win medals in middle and long distance, and walking in their footsteps makes me feel proud, you know.
I was world champion, but I was never able to celebrate it. It was a joke for me.
I don't drink gases, like Coke - just juice and water, and I don't drink alcohol.
I'm supposed to be famous, but I don't think I like it so much.
What is the point of me changing? If I became another person, it would be bad. If I acted in a different way with my friends, they would not be happy. It's important I stay the same.
From a young age, I was a pretty good listener, a strong lady. Maybe it helped me that I never felt intimidated by anybody. Even at school, I was always strong. I believed in myself, in what I do.
For me, running is nothing. Honestly, it's nothing.
