Caitlyn Jenner, born William Bruce Jenner on October 28, 1949, in Mount Kisco, New York, rose to fame as an athlete in the 1970s. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, she won a gold medal and set a world record in the decathlon. Jenner transitioned to entertainment afterward, becoming a public figure.
Recently, Caitlyn has gained attention for coming out as transgender and undergoing hormone therapy. Her brave decision has inspired many. Despite her transition, she feels the “old Bruce” is still a part of her.
In her youth, Jenner was a standout in football, basketball, and water skiing. A knee injury in college shifted her focus to track and field. Encouraged by her coach, L.D. Weldon, she trained rigorously and won the Kansas Relays in 1971. By 1976, she set a new decathlon world record.
Caitlyn recalls her internal struggle, saying, “I see a confused person at that time, running away from my life…with big-time fear.” Her Olympic success made her a hero, yet she felt “totally empty inside,” longing to be true to herself.
