WILLIAM BRUCE JENNER

Caitlyn Marie Jenner, born William Bruce Jenner on October 28, 1949, is an American media personality and former Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon. Jenner initially played college football for the Graceland Yellowjackets but was sidelined by a knee injury that required surgery. Encouraged by Olympic decathlete Jack Parker's coach, L. D. Weldon, to try the decathlon, Jenner began a six-year decathlon career that culminated in winning the event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, setting a world record and earning recognition as an "all-American hero." Following the Olympics, Jenner transitioned into television, film, writing, auto racing, business, and modeling.

Jenner has six children with three successive wives: Chrystie Crownover, Linda Thompson, and Kris Jenner. From 2007 to 2021, Jenner appeared on the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians alongside Kris, their daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and Kris's other children from her previous marriage.

In April 2015, Jenner publicly came out as a transgender woman, announcing her new name in July of that year. She starred in the reality television series I Am Cait from 2015 to 2016, focusing on her gender transition. Jenner's transition was considered a significant moment in the transgender rights movement, although her views on transgender issues have been met with criticism from some LGBTQ+ activists.

Jenner is a member of the Republican Party and ran in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, finishing 13th with one percent of the vote. Six months after the election, Jenner joined Fox News as an on-air contributor.

Jenner was born in Mount Kisco, New York, and grew up with a younger brother named Burt, who died in a car accident in 1976. She was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. Jenner attended high school in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and Newtown, Connecticut, graduating in 1968. She earned a football scholarship and attended Graceland College (now Graceland University) in Lamoni, Iowa, where she switched to the decathlon due to a knee injury. Jenner debuted as a decathlete in 1970, finishing fifth at the Drake Relays decathlon.

Jenner qualified for the Olympic decathlon team in 1972 and began intense training, balancing her sports pursuits with a job selling insurance. At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Jenner excelled, achieving personal bests and winning the gold medal with a world-record score, securing a place in Olympic history. Afterward, Jenner retired from competitive athletics, receiving numerous awards and honors, including the James E. Sullivan Award and the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 1976.

Following the Olympics, Jenner capitalized on the fame gained from the victory, pursuing opportunities in acting and advertising. Jenner became a prominent figure in advertising, featuring on Wheaties cereal boxes and other brand endorsements. She transitioned to television and film, with appearances in various roles and reality programs like Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She also appeared in comedies like Can't Stop the Music and Jack and Jill.

In the 1980s, Jenner pursued a career in auto racing, achieving notable success in the IMSA Camel GT series and winning the 1986 12 Hours of Sebring. In 2022, Jenner established Jenner Racing, a team in the all-female W Series open-wheel championship, which folded after one year.

Beyond racing, Jenner engaged in various business ventures and licensing deals. In 2016, Jenner became the face of H&M Sport and starred in a promotional film titled "Caitlyn Jenner's Greatest Victories: A Timeline." She has diversified her endeavors, from sports to business and beyond.

Jenner's personal life has seen her married three times. Her first marriage was to Chrystie Scott, with whom she had two children. Jenner then married Linda Thompson, with whom she had two sons. Her third marriage was to Kris Jenner, with whom she had two daughters, Kendall and Kylie, and became step-parent to Kris's children from her previous marriage.

In 2015, Jenner revealed her struggles with gender dysphoria and her journey toward transitioning. She emphasized her identity as a trans woman and detailed her journey in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer. Jenner underwent cosmetic and sex reassignment surgery in January 2017.

Jenner embraced her new identity, legally changing her name to Caitlyn Marie Jenner and adopting her new name in a renaming ceremony in 2015. She documented her transition journey in a special titled "Keeping Up with the Kardashians: About Bruce." Her coming out was covered extensively in the media and marked a significant moment in transgender visibility.

Jenner has become a prominent advocate for transgender rights and has used her visibility to raise awareness about gender dysphoria and violence against trans women. Her journey has been recognized with awards such as the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards and the Social Media Queen at the Teen Choice Awards.

Despite facing criticism and controversy over her political views and handling of transgender issues, Jenner has remained active in advocating for causes important to her. She also dabbled in politics, running for Governor of California in the 2021 recall election, although her campaign garnered minimal support.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caitlyn_Jenner

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