Caitlyn Jenner feels that ‘old Bruce’ still lives inside her
One of the most well-known athletes of the 1970s was Caitlyn Jenner. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, she set a new world record and took home a gold medal.
Her triumph in the decathlon catapulted her into national hero status, paving the way for a thriving career in entertainment, lucrative sponsorships, and the celebrity spotlight. Yet, behind the public persona of strength and masculinity, she quietly wrestled with her gender identity throughout much of her life.
Born on October 28, 1949, in Mount Kisco, New York, as William Bruce Jenner, she displayed exceptional athletic ability from a young age. Despite facing the challenges of dyslexia, sports became her refuge and a way to thrive.
A standout in high school athletics, she excelled in track and field, football, and basketball. Her talent earned her a football scholarship to Graceland College in Iowa, but a knee injury forced her to shift her focus entirely to track and field, changing the course of her future. As a decathlete, a sport demanding mastery of ten distinct events, Jenner’s coach, L.D. Weldon, quickly recognized her exceptional potential.
Under Weldon’s expert guidance, Jenner dedicated herself to rigorous training, eventually claiming the 1971 Kansas Relays title. Her hard work paid off the following year when she secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Competing in the decathlon at the 1972 Munich Olympics, she finished in eighth place, but her journey was far from over.
For the next four years, Jenner immersed herself in grueling training sessions, often spending up to eight hours a day honing her skills. Her determination to improve and push the boundaries of her abilities culminated in a breathtaking performance at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
At the age of 26, Jenner set a new world record in the decathlon with an impressive 8,618 points, clinching the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her triumph came at a time when the United States was grappling with the fallout from the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, giving the nation a sense of pride and hope during a turbulent period.
Celebrated as a national hero, Jenner became an icon of power and masculinity, admired for her athletic physique and flowing hair. But beneath the accolades and admiration, she struggled with a profound disconnect from the identity that the world celebrated. Despite the fame and financial success that followed, including endorsement deals with major brands, appearances in movies and TV shows, and even a symbolic selection by the Kansas City Kings in the NBA draft, Jenner felt a deep sense of emptiness.
She later revealed that, despite the applause and the spotlight, she felt like a fraud—unable to be her true self while playing a role that the world had constructed for her.
During her Olympic training, Jenner married Chrystie Scott, a flight attendant, in 1971, and the couple had two children, Burt and Cassandra. However, Jenner’s struggles with gender identity played a significant role in their 1981 divorce.
Though Chrystie was one of the first people Jenner confided in about these inner battles, she didn’t fully understand the depth of the conflict at the time. In 1981, after divorcing Chrystie, Jenner married Linda Thompson. They had two sons, Brandon and Brody. Their marriage, which initially seemed stable, eventually ended in 1986, with Jenner’s ongoing struggles with gender identity contributing to their separation.
Thompson, however, later expressed her support for Jenner’s transition, hoping that it would serve as an example and encourage others facing similar struggles.
By the late 1980s, Jenner was suffering from deep depression. In the early stages of her transition, she began taking estrogen, underwent nose surgery, and had facial hair removed through electrolysis. Before turning forty, she hoped to complete her transformation. However, during a time when public attitudes toward transgender individuals were far less accepting, Jenner halted her transition out of fear of how it would affect her life and public image. She retreated into the Bruce Jenner persona, putting her true self on hold in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.
Kendall and Kylie Jenner are the daughters of Caitlyn and Kris Jenner. Caitlyn married Kris in 1991, and their relationship, which lasted until 2015, was heavily covered by the media due to the family’s growing fame from the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Despite her public role as the patriarch of the family on the show, Caitlyn continued to privately struggle with her gender identity.
After separating from Kris in 2013, Caitlyn began her transition. She kept her plans to transition a secret for a time, fearing how her children would react. However, in 2015, Caitlyn courageously came out as transgender during an interview with Diane Sawyer. While her announcement was met with widespread praise and support, it also sparked significant controversy and backlash from various quarters.
Following her public disclosure, Caitlyn formally changed her name and underwent gender confirmation surgery. She later starred in the reality series I Am Cait, which provided an intimate look into her life as a transgender woman. Additionally, Caitlyn chronicled her journey in her memoir, The Secrets of My Life, further sharing her experiences and the challenges she faced during her transition.
Despite facing occasional conflicts with the LGBTQ+ community due to her political beliefs and affiliations, Caitlyn Jenner has become a strong advocate for transgender rights. She has often expressed that while she has fully embraced her identity as Caitlyn, she still feels a connection to her former identity as Bruce.
Caitlyn has maintained many of the hobbies she enjoyed before her transition, including flying airplanes and racing vehicles. Her children, Kendall and Kylie, continue to refer to her as “dad,” a term she is comfortable with and embraces.
Throughout the years, Caitlyn has received both praise and criticism. While some aspects of her activism have been questioned, many view her as a trailblazer in the fight for transgender visibility, appreciating the openness she has brought to the conversation about gender identity.
Caitlyn Jenner’s journey has undeniably sparked vital conversations about gender identity and the unique struggles faced by transgender individuals. As a prominent figure today, she skillfully balances her advocacy work, business ventures, and personal life. Her Olympic career, television appearances, and diverse business pursuits have contributed to her impressive estimated net worth of $100 million.
Her story is one of courage, resilience, and profound self-discovery. From Olympic champion to one of the world’s most recognizable transgender women, Caitlyn continues to inspire others to embrace their true selves, defying societal expectations.
Her legacy extends beyond athletic achievement. It highlights the importance of authenticity and the freedom to live life on one’s own terms, serving as a beacon of hope for those seeking to break free from limitations and live openly.
