Caster Semenya Wins Gold in Historic Women's 800m Victory for South Africa

The world is having an hour. Frank Ocean just broke the internet with the release of his second surprise album in two days, the highly, highly-anticipated and very much long-awaited Boys Don’t CryBlond LP.

And we love you, Frank. But let’s be real. Tonight belongs to someone else.

Caster Semenya is officially an Olympic champion.

The South African middle-distance star from Polokwane made history mere moments ago in Rio, emerging victorious in the final of the women’s 800-metre event with a time of 1:55.28. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and Kenya’s Margaret Wambui put up a good fight. Semenya, calm and collected as always, pulled away in the final 200 metres.

#Rio2016 #Caster4Gold Did you miss it? This is how @caster800m dominated the last stages of the race.. @ray_toerien pic.twitter.com/F4fxMeYgoI

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 21, 2016

She didn’t break Czech runner Jarmilla Kratochvilova’s 33-year-old world record of 1:53:28 as many were hoping. But she did set a new national record in South Africa and make history as the first black South African woman to win gold at the Olympics.

Semenya’s win brings South Africa’s medal count to their goal of ten. It was their second gold of the 2016 Summer Games––on Sunday, sprinter Wayde van Niekerk put on one of the great Olympic performances of all time and smashed American track-and-field star Michael Johnson’s 17-year world record.

Niyonsaba's second-place finish (with a time of 1:56.49) marks Burundi's first medal of the Rio Games. Wambui's third-place finish (1:56.89) brings Kenya's medal count to eleven.

Gold Gold Gold for Caster ?????????????? proudly South African. @caster800m was never a doubt

— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) August 21, 2016

We are very proud Caster, Very proud.#Caster4Gold https://t.co/cP0YLms5Es

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) August 21, 2016

Dear World

That was Caster - a great Ambassador for our country South Africa.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HER

She SLAYS

— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) August 21, 2016

Was there ever a doubt that #CasterSemenya was going to kill this? Congrats Sis!! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/2mONuUQMYt

— Makho Ndlovu (@makhondlovu) August 21, 2016

@caster800m .. What God has given no man can take away. Congrats? ?#CasterSemenya #excusethecommentary It was lit pic.twitter.com/DUM01zUCrw

— #NuHigh Toya Delazy (@ToyaDelazy) August 21, 2016

How many ways do we love you, @caster800m ?❤️?❤️? We officially declare you The National Bae!!! ???❤️???

— marang setshwaelo (@marangdream) August 21, 2016

#CasterSemenya didn't even break a sweat, she could've easily gone another 800 meters.. ?

— ProVerb (@ProVerbMusic) August 21, 2016

Well done!!! We are proud!!! @caster800m ??

— FillUpOrlandoStadium (@CassperNyovest) August 21, 2016

To put it in perspective. Caster Semenya is the 11th fastest woman of ALL TIME in the 800m. She’s the 3rd fastest African woman of all time!

— Lesedi Dibakwane (@LesDibaks) August 21, 2016