South African athlete Caster Semenya has sparked rumours that she and her wife Violet Raseboya are expecting a baby.

The Olympic and World champion, 29, posted a photo on social media of her feet accompanied by a baby-size pair of Nike trainers.

Alongside the photo she posted two stars with a shining star in the middle but gave no other details as to what it all means.

Followers were quick to respond with their hopes that this might mean the pitter-patter of tiny running feet.

One wrote: “Waaaaait OMG! Is this an announcement? I'm not going to get too excited in case I'm wrong” while another added: “Feel exactly the same but I can’t stop smiling so.”

The champion runner and her wife tied the knot on Semenya’s 26th birthday in 2017 following a long-term partnership which started when they met in a restroom in 2007.

The potential baby news comes as a happy change for the runner who has been subject to criticisms over her gender and her eligibility to run in female races due to her high levels of testosterone caused by ’difference of sexual development’ (DSD).

Her elevated levels of the male hormone mean that under new IAAF rules she would have to take testosterone suppressants in order to compete in events between 400m and a mile - something which she has refused to do.

She has since declared that she will aim for the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics and has also signed a contract at South African women's football team JVW with whom she has been training since September.