| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 800m | 2009 | Berlin, GER | 1:55.45 |
| 2 | 800m | 2011 | Daegu, KOR | 1:56.35 |
| Diamond League | ||||
| 1 | 800m | 2011 | Paris Saint-Denis, FRA | 2:00.18 |
| 2 | 800m | 2011 | Eugene, OR, USA | 1:58.88 |
| 3 | 800m | 2011 | Oslo, NOR | 1:58.61 |
| 3 | 800m | 2010 | Brussels, BEL | 1:59.65 |
| 5 | 800m | 2011 | Zurich, SUI | 1:59.77 |
| 8 | 800m | 2012 | Rome, ITA | 2:00.07 |
| 8 | 800m | 2011 | Stockholm, SWE | 2:01.28 |
| World Challenge | ||||
| 1 | 800m | 2011 | Dakar, SEN | 2:00.61 |
| 1 | 800m | 2010 | Berlin, GER | 1:59.90 |
| 2 | 800m | 2012 | Ostrava, CZE | 2:00.80 |
| 2 | 800m | 2011 | Berlin, GER | 1:58.74 |
Occupation
Athlete, Student
Education
Sports Science - University of Pretoria, Pretoria, RSA
Club name
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, RSA
Coach
Maria Mutola (MOZ) from 2011 (sportlive.co.za, 01 Apr 2012)
Injuries
She withdrew from the 2010 Commonwealth Games because of a back injury. She suffered lower back pain and a scan showed that she had inflammation of the spine. (dailymail.co.uk, 28 Sep 2010)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
She took up running at age six and was a sprinter in school competitions. (special.registerguard.com, 03 Jun 2011)
Reason for taking up this sport
She used to play football, karate and boxing at a younger age but found running was her passion. "It makes me who I am. Running is everything to me. When I am running, I am happy." (special.registerguard.com, 03 Jun 2011; timeslive.co.za, 03 Jun 2011)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the 800m at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany. (guardian.co.uk, 12 Jun 2011)
Hero
Mozambican 800m runner Maria Mutola. "Maria has been my idol since I started to run." (guardian.co.uk, 24 Oct 2011)
Superstitions / Rituals
Before a race she likes to put on her headphones and listen to music. (guardian.co.uk, 12 Jun 2011)
Awards
She was named the 2009 Sportswoman of the Year by TuksSport. (varsitylife.co.za, 02 Nov 2009)
General
LONDON 2012 PREPARATION
Her agent Jukka Harkonen announced in early 2012 that she planned to cut down on the number of competitive races so that she is in perfect shape for the Olympic Games in London. "Last year she ran too many races at home and she had a lot of travelling to do. With a new coach there is also new training techniques and new ideas. We must not forget that Caster is still very young." (yahoo.com, 03 Feb 2012)
GENDER TESTS
After lowering her personal best in the 800m by more than four seconds at the 2009 African junior Championships in Mauritius, she was asked by the International Association of Athletics Federations [IAAF] to take a gender test. Following the findings of initial tests, the IAAF asked Athletics South Africa [ASA] to withdraw her from their team for the 2009 World Championships, but the ASA insisted she should compete. After winning the 800m world title in Berlin she was asked to undergo further tests, and spent 11 months on the sidelines while the gender tests were carried out. In July 2010 the IAAF released a statement confirming that she would be allowed to return to competition. "The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete [as a woman] with immediate effect," the statement said. (BBC, 15 Jul 2010)
