Caster Semenya targets 800m and 1500m at 2012 Olympics

Semenya is the 800m world champion

South Africa's 800m world champion Caster Semenya says she also hopes to run in the 1500m at this year's World Championships and at the 2012 Olympics.

Semenya shot to fame when she won the 800m world title in August 2009 before taking an enforced break of a year to undergo gender verification tests.

But having been recognised as a female, Semenya now aims to run in both events.

"I'm not only looking to run it [1500m] at the world champs but also at the Olympics," confirmed the 20-year-old.

Semenya returned to competitive athletics in July last year but her comeback was derailed by a back injury that forced her to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

However, the South African feels that she is almost back to her best.

"I am feeling better and my times are getting better now. The world champs are my main target for the year," she insisted.

Semenya's coach, Michael Seme, said that he was pleased with her progress since her recovery from injury.

"The quality she is showing now is fine. She has worked hard and she is in no pain which augers well. There is nothing impeding her [from running a fast time]," he said.

Semenya will be in action on Saturday and Sunday when she lines up in the 800 and 1500 at the South African championships in Durban.

She has a best time of two minutes 1.77 seconds in the 800m this season, well short of her World Championships-winning time of 1:55.45.