Caitlyn Jenner was a major sports star in the 1970s. She won a gold medal and broke a world record at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. After finishing her athletic career, she moved into the entertainment industry.
Nowadays, Caitlyn is well-known for coming out as transgender and undergoing hormone treatments for her transition. This brave choice has made her a role model for many people.
However, Caitlyn still feels that the “old Bruce” is a part of her. That’s the important stuff you should know about Caitlyn Jenner!
Caitlyn Jenner, originally named William Bruce Jenner, was born on October 28, 1949, in Mount Kisco, New York. When she was younger, she faced challenges with dyslexia, but sports became a way for her to shine. During her childhood, Caitlyn excelled in athletics and showed amazing talent in various sports.
Caitlyn Jenner – early life
Caitlyn Jenner was really good at sports during her high school years. She played football, basketball, and even water skied, but her heart was truly in track and field.
At first, she got a football scholarship to Graceland College in Iowa. Unfortunately, she hurt her knee, which meant she couldn’t play football anymore, so she decided to focus on track and field instead.
Caitlyn was an amazing athlete and earned the title of Most Valuable Player on her high school basketball, football, and track teams. However, she was also dealing with some tough feelings about her gender identity at that time.
“I see guys and think, ‘He’s so comfortable with who he is,’” Jenner remembered. “And I wish I could feel that way too. I look at women and think, ‘How lucky they are to just be themselves.’ But here I am, feeling stuck in the middle.”
In college, Caitlyn’s track coach, L.D. Weldon, encouraged her to train for the Olympic decathlon, which includes ten different track and field events. He was really experienced in this tough sport and believed Caitlyn had what it took to succeed.
In 1971, Caitlyn came out of nowhere and won the Kansas Relays. A year later, she made the US Olympic team, finishing 10th in the Olympic decathlon in Munich.
Olympic superstar
Jenner accomplished something really impressive, but she believed she could achieve even more. So, she started a tough training schedule, practicing for eight hours every single day for the next four years.
When the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, rolled around in 1976, Jenner was fully prepared.
On July 30, 1976, at just 26 years old, she won the Olympic decathlon and set a new world record with a score of 8,618 points.
During a challenging time for the US, with issues like the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate, Jenner’s Olympic victory was a big deal. She was celebrated like a superhero and became a symbol of strength, especially with her long, flowing hair.
People called her the best athlete in the world. However, even though she was seen as a symbol of masculinity, she felt like a woman when she stood on the podium to receive her gold medal.
“I see a confused person at that time, running away from my life … with big-time fear,” Caitlyn told ABC. “[I was] scared to death. I didn’t realize what my future held at that time.”
“That is me. That is her,” she added, referring to her gender identity. “[you can be a woman] and still kick butt.”
“I was totally empty inside”
Caitlyn Jenner’s huge win at the Olympics made her an American hero, but it also brought her a lot of fame. When she returned to the U.S., everyone wanted to be around her.
She landed many endorsement deals and became a well-known brand. Jenner appeared in commercials, TV shows, and even movies.
But behind the public persona of Bruce Jenner, she was struggling with her true identity.
In 1977, Jenner was chosen in the seventh round of the NBA draft by the Kansas City Kings. While she enjoyed the cheers and attention on stage, it didn’t really mean much to her.
“I would walk off the stage feeling like a fraud. I thought, ‘I can’t share my real story,’” she remembered. “There’s so much more to me than just those 48 hours in the spotlight, and I can’t express it.” It was really frustrating for her, and she felt angry at herself. “People had no idea how empty I felt inside.”
Seven years before winning at the Olympics, in 1971, Caitlyn Jenner tied the knot with her college love, Chrystie Scott. While Jenner worked as a nighttime insurance salesman, Chrystie was a flight attendant, and she fully supported her husband in chasing their Olympic goals.
Caitlyn Jenner – marriage, wife, children
Caitlyn Jenner and Chrystie Crownover had their first child, Burt, in 1978, and two years later, they welcomed their daughter, Cassandra. However, during Chrystie’s pregnancy with Cassandra, the couple had already separated.
In an interview with ABC, Jenner mentioned that Chrystie was likely the first to realize the difficulties he faced regarding his gender identity.
“I didn’t talk about it a lot back then,” Caitlyn shared. “I just said, ‘These are my problems. This is what I’m going through.’ People thought I was just doing a bit of cross-dressing and that it would all work out in the end.”
Even though Jenner struggled with her gender identity, she kept those feelings hidden. In 1981, she married Linda Thompson, and they had two sons, Brody and Brandon. They divorced five years later.
Caitlyn later admitted that her issues with gender identity contributed to their separation. However, Thompson made it clear that she would always support Caitlyn, no matter what.
“My hope is that his transition will inspire others who struggle with their identities, and my prayer is that humanity has evolved and been educated enough to exercise kindness toward those we may perceive as ‘different,” she said.
After splitting from Linda, Caitlyn Jenner decided to get professional help as she was battling depression. Also, in the late 80s, she began taking estrogen, as well as going through a nose job and electrolysis to eliminate facial hair.
Stopped her transition
Caitlyn Jenner began to notice changes in her body, like developing breasts, as she had hoped to complete her transition before turning 40. However, she chose to pause the process when she was 39.
Caitlyn faced a tough battle with her identity. At the same time, society’s understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals wasn’t as advanced as it is now, which made her journey even harder, especially since she was a well-known figure.
One of the bravest things Caitlyn did was confide in her older sister Pam about her struggles with gender identity. This was the first time a family member learned about what she was going through.
Unfortunately, some of her family members found it hard to grasp her situation.
In 1991, Caitlyn married Kris Jenner, and they stayed together until 2015. Together, they had two of her most famous kids, Kylie and Kendall Jenner.
Caitlyn and Kris’s marriage lasted nearly 20 years, and their family gained massive fame when they starred in the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, which started in 2007. Despite this success, Caitlyn still felt like she was living a lie by presenting herself as a man.
In 2013, Kris and Caitlyn separated. Four months later, she resumed her transition without telling her children.
Still feel like Bruce lives inside her
Jenner was worried about how her family would react to the news since they were unaware of her plans.
“That night I thought, ‘oh, it’s, like, over. Heart’s pounding… and I thought wouldn’t the easiest thing to be right now,” Caitlyn Jenner recalled.
In 2014, Kris and Caitlyn officially ended their marriage. Caitlyn shared her journey of transitioning with all her kids, and they were really supportive of her.
Now, Caitlyn Jenner is living her new life, which is definitely different from how it used to be. Sometimes, Kendall and Kylie still refer to her as “dad,” but Caitlyn has said she doesn’t mind, even if it can be a bit confusing.
“I know we had a talk a few years ago and you were ok with us still calling you dad. How do you feel about that now,” her daughter, Kylie, asked Caitlyn in a video on her Youtube channel:
Caitlyn Jenner – net worth
I think it was one of the best choices I ever made. This community can be really challenging sometimes, especially when it comes to pronouns, and everyone has their own thoughts about it, Caitlyn said.
“But I always felt that I needed to do things in a way that feels right for me, and everyone else can find their own way that works for them. Some people might say, ‘You’re the mother,’ but that’s not true. I’m the dad, and I’ve always been the dad. I will be their father for as long as we both live.”
Even though it’s been over five years since Caitlyn Jenner transitioned, she still feels like “Bruce” is a part of her. Just like before she transitioned, she still loves doing things that Bruce enjoyed, like car racing and flying planes.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Caitlyn Jenner has a net worth of around $100 million.
Caitlyn Jenner is really brave and inspires a lot of people. Don’t forget to share this article on Facebook with your friends and family!