Controversial world athletics champion Caster Semenya, who coasted to 800 metres gold in Berlin last week, has been greeted by thousands at Johannesburg airport after landing back home this morning.
Semenya produced the fifth fastest time in history at the age of 18 last Wednesday before her gender became the subject of an investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the world governing body, over her muscular build and deep voice.
A stage had been erected at the airport for women's rights and political groups while fans danced and sounded plastic horns in the arrivals hall.
Supporters waved home-made placards which read "Our first lady of sport" and "100 percent female woman".
Roads to the airport were closed until noon due to the sheer volume of people trying to catch a glimpse of Semenya and the returning athletes.
Several buses with Semenya's relatives and friends from Ga-Masehlong, the small village in Limpopo 200 miles north of Johannesburg where the athlete was born, were expected to attend the event.
On arrival, Semenya, men's 800 metres gold medalist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and long jump silver medalist Kgotso Mokoena will travel from the airport to meet President Jacob Zuma at his guest house in Pretoria.
The gender-testing debate has sparked outrage in the 18 year-old's home country, with the ruling party and its youth and women's wings saying the test smacked of racism and sexism.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said: "Caster deserves our support as a nation against the onslaught being waged against her.
"To us Caster is simply the best 800m woman World Champion and must be given a heroine's welcome upon return."
Semenya underwent tests by an endocrinologist, gynaecologist, psychologist and other experts and the results are expected to take weeks.
The IAAF has stated it is unlikely she will be stripped of her title if she fails the test.
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