Biography
Who is Caitlyn Jenner?
Early life and athletics
Caitlyn Jenner was born in Mount Kisco, New York. She attended schools in New York and Connecticut before graduating in 1968. She earned an athletic scholarship to Graceland College in Iowa where she played football. A knee injury forced her to stop playing football, but her coach, L. D. Weldon, suggested she try the decathlon.
She debuted as a decathlete in 1970 at the Drake Relays. By 1972, she competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials and qualified for the Olympic team by winning the 1500 meters. She finished tenth in the decathlon at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. This experience inspired her to start an intense training regimen that lasted until the 1976 Games.
Decathlon career and Olympic gold
After graduation, she lived in San Jose, California, where she trained daily while working other jobs. During this era, she became an American champion in the decathlon. In 1975, she won the French national championship and a gold medal at the Pan American Games. She also set world records at the 1975 U.S.A./U.S.S.R./Poland triangular meet and the 1976 Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.
At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Caitlyn achieved personal bests in all five events on the first day. She continued to perform well on the second day, eventually winning the gold medal with a world-record score of 8,618 points. Following this victory, she grabbed an American flag from a spectator during her lap, starting a tradition for winners. She retired from athletic competition immediately after the Games, having received the James E. Sullivan Award and the Associated Press Athlete of the Year title.
Television career and public life
Caitlyn Jenner established a career in television, film, and as a model. From 2007 to 2021, she appeared on the reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The show featured her family, including her former wife Kris and their daughters Kendall and Kylie. In 2015, she publicly announced that she was transgender and starred in the documentary series I Am Cait, which documented her transition.
Her political activity includes a run in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election. She finished 13th in that race. Shortly after that election, she began working as an on-air contributor for Fox News. Over the years, she has also been involved in acting, film production, and sports commentary.
Family and personal background
Caitlyn Jenner was born as William Bruce Jenner to parents Esther Ruth and William Hugh Jenner. She has six children named Brandon, Brody, Kendall, Kylie, Burt, and Cassandra. Over the years, she has been married to Chrystie Scott, Linda Thompson, and Kris Jenner. She stands 185 centimeters tall.
As a child, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Her younger brother, Burt, died in a car accident in Connecticut in 1976, which occurred shortly after her Olympic success. She has remained active in public life for decades, transitioning from a celebrated athlete to a prominent media figure and activist.
Birthday and age
Caitlyn Jenner was born on October 28, 1949, which makes Caitlyn 77 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Caitlyn shares the date with 63 other famous people.
Explore more
