Semenya struggling to find sponsors – coach 25/10/2010 |
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Caster Semenya is finding it hard to get sponsors despite being a world champion, her coach has revealed.
"It is tough for Caster," Michael Seme told Reuters. "If you look overseas you will see other world champions featuring in a lot of advertising campaigns and you see their faces up on billboards but that doesn't happen for Caster."
Semenya, who underwent gender verification tests after winning 800m gold at the World Championships in August 2009, did not have as much financial backing as she would have liked, Seme said.
"Caster does receive help from Nike while the Department of Sports and Recreation and the University of Pretoria help out with her education but there isn't spare money," Seme added.
"For instance, if she requires special equipment she can't just go out and get it."
Reports in South Africa about Semenya's financial situation have sparked a campaign by a group of fans to raise one million rand ($143,600) for the runner by December.
"People love her," Thobeka Magcai, a spokesman for the campaign, told Reuters.
"She has been through such a lot at such a young age and we just want to show our support for her and say that we want to see you back on the world stage, winning medals."
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