Bruce Jenner transitioned into Caitlyn at the age of 65. The 1976 Olympic gold medalist says she is happier than ever since revealing her plans and completing the controversial gender transition.
While Caitlyn loves her new life and appearance, she still has great affection for Bruce. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bruce Jenner’s decathlon gold medal, Caitlyn said, “I loved Bruce. I still love him today. I like what he did and the way he set an example for hard work and dedication. I’m proud of that part of my life. But this woman was living inside me, all my life, and it reached the point where I had to let her live and put Bruce inside. And I am happier, these last 12 months, than I’ve ever been in my life.”
She continued, “Little Caitlyn has been in there since I was young. Sometimes she raised her cute little head more than others. I was female inside, but I wasn’t an effeminate male. So I could hide easily in the male world. My life was distraction after distraction after distraction. Being a macho male was a way for me to try to convince myself that the woman living inside of me really isn’t living inside me. Obviously, it didn’t work.”
Caitlyn will not publicly address whether she plans on undergoing gender reassignment surgery as she feels it is no one’s business.
However, the reality TV star was happy to explain her ability to be great in sports, adding, “The decathlon was the perfect distraction. Sports. It’s not real life. You go out there, you work hard, you train your ass off, win the Games. I’m very proud of that part of my life. And it’s not like I just want to throw it out. It’s part of who I am. What I’m dealing with now, this is about who you are as a human being. What did I do for the world in 1976, besides maybe getting a few people to exercise a little bit? I didn’t make a difference in the world.”