All eyes are on South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya at the Rio Olympics. Try as she might, the gold medal favorite in Saturday's 800 meter finals can't seem to shake the controversy of reportedly (according to several media) being an intersex athlete, otherwise defined as an anatomically and genetically ambiguous person although she herself has never confirmed it.

At the heart of the debate is the burning question of whether Semenya should even be allowed to compete against other female athletes given her aforementioned condition and somewhat perceived advantage.

The Debate

A then 18-year-old Semenya burst on the scene and into the world public consciousness in 2009, when she easily lapped the field at the world championships in Berlin, attracting as much attention for her look and appearance as her skill and speed.

After the race, two of her peers openly questioned her sex.

"Just look at her," Russia's Mariya Savinova said back then of Semenya's broad shoulders and overall masculine appearance.

Added Italy's Elisa Cusma Piccione, "For me, she is not a woman. ... It is useless to compete with this, and it is not fair."

That ruling stands for at least two years, paving the way for Semanya to be in Rio this month and in Olympic Stadium this week for the start of her much anticipated races.

This week, she tweeted an image of a poster that reads, "I truly believe my haters are my motivators."

Back home, the people of South Arica remain united behind her, recently launching the "HandsOffCaster" social media campaign that's been trending as her races approach.

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