"Shut up and run!" Not the subtlest words ever spoken by Madiba, but they did the trick for Caster Semenya. When South Africa's golden girl met the former president in August 2009, she was under attack. A storm had erupted over her victory at the world championships in Berlin."Shut up and run!" advised Madiba. So Caster did exactly that. And now, according to her nearest and dearest, she is impervious to the persistent attacks on her right to compete. She lets her legs - and her medals - do the talking.On Wednesday, the Sunday Times watched Caster's 800m heat on TV in Pretoria with her wife, Violet Raseboya, and two of their close friends, Kgothatso "KG" Montjane, a Paralympic tennis player, and the SABC talk-show host Aaron Moloisi."Ever since Madiba gave her that message, she has blocked all the negativity and focused only on running. That's one reason she has few friends," Moloisi said.But quality beats quantity - and Violet, KG and Moloisi are a trio of world-class cheerleaders. They have known Caster since their teenage years in Limpopo: Caster and KG grew up in Ga-Masehlong, while Moloisi hails from nearby Seshego.All three were nervous as Caster loosened up in lane four. But none as nervous as Violet, who married Caster in a traditional ceremony last December.Didn't she wish she was in Rio? "I would be more nervous," Violet said softly.As Caster, 25, primed herself for the gun, Violet leant forward in her seat and twirled her forefinger, in tribute to Caster's habitual pre-race gesture.The pistol barked, the runners leapt forward, and Caster quickly joined a group bunched up in lane one. Violet is an accomplished athlete herself, fascinated by race tactics, and could not contain herself. "Dom lane! No, you don't do that, wena!"But Caster had it all mapped out. In the final bend, she pulled rank with imperious authorityfor an easy victory without draining precious energy.On Caster's wrist was the leather bracelet given to her by Violet, inscribed with the words "I Love You, Caster"."That's her lucky charm," said KG. "It was damaged the day before she left, and we were running around looking for an elastic band to fix it."There is another, flashier symbol of their union. Caster and Violet drive a luxury 4x4, with a number plate that combines the first halves of their names: CASVIO.Violet has spoken to Caster every day during the Olympics. "She sounded happy today. I think it's because of the funny video message she got from Somizi [Mhlongo], saying: 'Go run, girl!' You can feel when she's OK, when she's ready." When I watch her running, it's like she entertains me. It's like watching people dancing. They've got these unique moves that you don't know  Watching a later heat, Violet cheered for Francine Niyonsaba, a promising Burundian. A threat to Caster? "No," laughed KG. "Caster is the only threat!"Violet represented South Africa in cross-country events for five years, and ran on the track at the All-Africa Games. Nowadays she is settling into a career in logistics at Transnet.They met at an athletics meet in Limpopo when both were 15, and there was already a difference between their ambitions."She always dreamt big," said Violet. "Me, I take things as they come. The Olympics is everybody's dream, but I'm not that strong, I have speed but I don't have power like hers."I do believe in myself, but you just need to accept that, you know, there are different levels. She is world-class. She's got it all. When I watch her running, it's like she entertains me. It's like watching people dancing. They've got these unique moves that you don't know."Caster is nominated as athlete of the year at this year's G-sport for Girls next weekend. The NGO raises the profile of South African women in sport and has been rallying behind her during the Olympics.Violet believes Caster has not felt any weight of expectation from the millions who have rallied to her defence through the #HandsOffCaster campaign."She puts her own pressure on herself," she said. "We may support her, but it's up to her what she wants."But the supreme importance of this moment was not lost on Caster, said Violet. "She will be thinking: 'Maybe I will be too old at the next Olympics.' You can't predict whether you'll be fit. So this one, it's do or die."..