History of Caitlyn Jenner in Timeline

Caitlyn Jenner is a well-known American media personality. Before her transition, she was an Olympic athlete who won a gold medal in the decathlon. Her story has brought significant attention to transgender issues and advocacy.

October 28, 1949: Birth of Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner was born William Bruce Jenner on October 28, 1949 in Mount Kisco, New York.

1968: Caitlyn Jenner Graduates High School

Caitlyn Jenner graduated from Newtown High School in Newtown, Connecticut in 1968.

1970: Caitlyn Jenner's Debut as a Decathlete

Caitlyn Jenner's journey as a decathlete began in 1970 at the Drake Relays decathlon in Des Moines, Iowa, where she finished in fifth place.

1972: Marriage to Chrystie Scott

Caitlyn Jenner married Chrystie Scott in 1972. They had two children together: Burt and Cassandra "Casey" Marino.

1972: Caitlyn Jenner Competes in the Munich Summer Olympics

Caitlyn Jenner, then known as Bruce Jenner, competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, finishing tenth in the decathlon. This experience fueled Jenner's determination to train harder.

1972: Cold War Olympics

During the 1972 Cold War Olympics, Soviet athletes won three major titles: basketball, the 100-meter dash, and decathlon. Jenner became an American hero by regaining the decathlon title for the United States.

1973: Caitlyn Jenner Graduates from Graceland College

In 1973, Caitlyn Jenner graduated from Graceland College with a degree in physical education.

August 1974: Caitlyn Jenner Featured on Track & Field News Magazine Cover

Caitlyn Jenner's success as an athlete was highlighted in August 1974 when she was featured on the cover of Track & Field News magazine.

1975: Caitlyn Jenner Wins Gold at the Pan American Games

Caitlyn Jenner continued her winning streak in 1975, securing victories at the French national championship and the Pan American Games, where she set a new tournament record.

1975: Caitlyn Jenner Experiences Setback at AAU National Championships

In 1975, Caitlyn Jenner faced a setback at the AAU National Championships, where a failed attempt in the pole vault negatively impacted her overall score.

August 9, 1976: Sports Illustrated Cover

Caitlyn Jenner appeared on the cover of the August 9, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated.

November 30, 1976: Caitlyn Jenner's Brother Burt Dies in a Car Accident

On November 30, 1976, shortly after Caitlyn Jenner's Olympic triumph, her younger brother, Burt, tragically died in a car accident in Canton, Connecticut.

1976: Caitlyn Jenner Wins Gold at the Montreal Summer Olympics

At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Caitlyn Jenner, then competing as Bruce Jenner, won the gold medal in the men's decathlon, setting a world record. This victory propelled Jenner to fame as an "all-American hero."

1976: Olympic and World Record Set

In 1976, Caitlyn Jenner set a world and Olympic record in the decathlon.

1976: Olympic Victory

In 1976, Caitlyn Jenner, then known as Bruce Jenner, won the decathlon at the Summer Olympics.

November 22, 1977: Deceptive Advertising Charges

Jenner refuted deceptive advertising charges filed by San Francisco district attorney Joseph Freitas against General Mills, the maker of Wheaties. The suit was withdrawn two days later.

1977: NBA Draft Pick

Despite not playing basketball since high school, Jenner was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the 139th overall pick in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft as a publicity stunt.

1977: Wheaties Spokesperson

Jenner became a spokesperson for Wheaties breakfast cereal and was featured on the cereal box cover in 1977.

1978: Television Debut

Caitlyn Jenner began making television appearances in the mid-1970s, with one of her first roles being a co-host on the daytime talk and variety series "America Alive!" in 1978.

February 1979: Gentleman's Quarterly Cover

Jenner was featured on the cover of the February 1979 issue of Gentleman's Quarterly.

1979: First Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Win

Caitlyn Jenner won the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 1979, notably overtaking Al Unser.

1980: Induction into Halls of Fame

Caitlyn Jenner was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1980.

1980: Record Broken

Daley Thompson surpassed Jenner's decathlon record by four points at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

January 5, 1981: Marriage to Linda Thompson

Caitlyn Jenner married Linda Thompson in Hawaii on January 5, 1981. Their sons, Brandon and Brody, later appeared in the reality shows "The Princes of Malibu" and "The Hills."

January 1981: Divorce from Chrystie Scott

Caitlyn Jenner's divorce from Chrystie Scott was finalized in the first week of January 1981.

1981: Olympic Decathlon Video Game

Jenner appeared in the video game "Olympic Decathlon."

1981: Television Movies

Jenner starred in the made-for-TV movies "The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story" and "Grambling's White Tiger."

1982: Second Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Win

Caitlyn Jenner won the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach for the second time in 1982, passing Ted Nugent for the win.

1982: CHiPs Role

During the 1981-1982 season, Jenner had a recurring role as Officer Steve McLeish on the police series "CHiPs," filling in for Erik Estrada.

1984: End of Spokesperson Role

Jenner's time as a Wheaties spokesperson ended, and Mary Lou Retton replaced her in 1984.

1985: Decathlon Score Re-evaluated

In 1985, The IAAF re-evaluated Jenner's decathlon score to 8,634 points which became the new American record.

1985: Silver Spoons Appearance

Jenner appeared in an episode of the sitcom "Silver Spoons" called "Trouble with Words," where her character dealt with dyslexia.

February 1986: Separation from Linda Thompson

Caitlyn Jenner and Linda Thompson separated in February 1986 and later divorced.

1986: 12 Hours of Sebring Victory

Caitlyn Jenner achieved her first racing victory at the 1986 12 Hours of Sebring race in the IMSA GTO class, driving a Ford Mustang with Scott Pruett. This year marked Jenner's most successful in racing, finishing second in the championship.

1986: Induction into Olympic Hall of Fame

Jenner was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1986.

1989: Dirty Tennis Role

Jenner played herself in the comedy short "Dirty Tennis."

April 21, 1991: Marriage to Kris Kardashian

Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Kardashian got married on April 21, 1991, after a five-month courtship. They had two daughters, Kendall and Kylie.

1991: Hormone Therapy Paused

Caitlyn Jenner stopped taking hormone replacement therapy when her relationship with Kris Kardashian became more serious, leading to their marriage in 1991.

1991: American Record Broken

Dan O'Brien, gold medalist and world record holder, surpassed Jenner's American decathlon record in 1991.

1994: Induction into More Halls of Fame

Jenner was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

1996: Bruce Jenner's World Class Decathlon Video Game

Jenner was featured in the video game "Bruce Jenner's World Class Decathlon."

September 11, 2001: Moira Smith Honored Posthumously

Moira Smith, the only female New York Police Department officer who died on September 11, 2001, was posthumously awarded Glamour's "Woman of the Year."

January 2002: The Weakest Link Appearance

In January 2002, Jenner appeared on an episode of "The Weakest Link" featuring Olympic athletes.

March 2003: I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Appearance

Jenner participated in the American series "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" in early 2003.

2003: Previous I'm a Celebrity Appearance

Jenner had previously appeared on the American version of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" in 2003.

May 2005: The Apprentice Cameo

Jenner made a cameo appearance on the third season of "The Apprentice."

March 2006: Skating with Celebrities Appearance

Jenner partnered with Tai Babilonia on "Skating with Celebrities" but was eliminated during the fifth episode.

2007: Keeping Up with the Kardashians Debut

Caitlyn Jenner began starring in the E! reality series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" along with her wife Kris Jenner and their children.

2008: Various Television Appearances

Jenner made several television appearances, including the Nickelodeon film "Gym Teacher: The Movie," episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Lingo," and talk shows like "Hannity" and "The Bonnie Hunt Show."

November 2010: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Appearance

A photograph of Jenner was featured in an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

2010: Induction into San Jose Sports Hall of Fame

Jenner was Inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

2011: Jack and Jill Appearance

Jenner appeared in the Adam Sandler comedy "Jack and Jill" in a scene with Al Pacino.

June 2013: Separation from Kris Kardashian

Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Kardashian separated in June 2013, though they didn't announce it publicly until four months later.

2013: Robin Roberts Receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award

Anchorwoman Robin Roberts was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2013.

September 2014: Divorce Filing

Kris Kardashian filed for divorce in September 2014, citing irreconcilable differences.

December 2014: Divorce Finalization

Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Kardashian's divorce was finalized in December 2014.

2014: Michael Sam Receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award

Footballer Michael Sam was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2014.

2014: Laverne Cox Honored by Glamour

In 2014, Glamour magazine honored transgender actress Laverne Cox.

February 2015: Fatal Car Collision

Caitlyn Jenner was involved in a multi-vehicle collision that resulted in the death of Kim Howe in February 2015. The accident occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

March 23, 2015: Divorce Effective Date

Due to legal requirements, Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Kardashian's divorce became official on March 23, 2015.

April 2015: Coming Out as Transgender

Caitlyn Jenner publicly came out as a transgender woman in April 2015 during a televised interview with Diane Sawyer. She shared her experiences with gender dysphoria and stated her intention to live as a woman.

May 2015: "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" Special

A two-part special, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians: About Bruce," aired in May 2015, documenting Caitlyn Jenner's discussions with her family about her transition.

June 2015: Caitlyn Jenner Officially Changes Name

Caitlyn Jenner officially changed her name from Bruce to Caitlyn in June 2015.

June 2015: Public Debut as Caitlyn

Caitlyn Jenner publicly debuted her new name and image in June 2015, beginning to use feminine pronouns.

June 2015: Advocacy for Transgender Issues

In June 2015, Caitlyn Jenner made a private appearance at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where she spoke with transgender youth and began her advocacy for transgender issues.

July 2015: Name Change Ceremony

Caitlyn Jenner formally adopted the name Caitlyn Marie Jenner at a renaming ceremony in July 2015.

July 2015: Arthur Ashe Courage Award

Caitlyn Jenner received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards in July 2015.

July 2015: Premiere of I Am Cait

Caitlyn Jenner's docuseries, "I Am Cait", focusing on her life after her transition, premiered in July 2015.

August 2015: Social Media Queen Award at the Teen Choice Awards

Caitlyn Jenner was awarded the Social Media Queen award at the Teen Choice Awards in August 2015.

September 2015: Legal Name and Gender Change

Caitlyn Jenner legally changed her name to Caitlyn Marie Jenner and updated her gender marker to female in September 2015.

September 2015: "South Park" Parody

Starting in September 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was satirized on the animated show "South Park," which parodied her transition and the surrounding public reactions.

October 2015: Renewal of I Am Cait

"I Am Cait" was renewed for a second season in October 2015.

October 2015: Glamour's Women of the Year

In October 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was recognized as one of Glamour magazine's 25 Glamour Women of the Year and named a "Trans Champion."

November 2015: Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year

Caitlyn Jenner was named one of Entertainment Weekly's 2015 Entertainers of the Year.

December 2015: Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person

In December 2015, Barbara Walters named Caitlyn Jenner the Most Fascinating Person of 2015.

December 2015: Settlement with Jessica Steindorff

Jessica Steindorff, who was involved in the February 2015 collision with Caitlyn Jenner, reached a settlement in her lawsuit in December 2015.

2015: Diane Sawyer Interview

Caitlyn Jenner's interview with Diane Sawyer took place in 2015.

2015: Vanity Fair Cover and Twitter Debut

Caitlyn Jenner's introduction to the world as Caitlyn was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair with the caption "Call me Caitlyn." She also joined Twitter, quickly gaining a massive following and setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to reach one million followers.

2015: Identifies as Asexual

In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner clarified that she identifies as asexual, emphasizing the distinction between sexual orientation and gender identity.

2015: Caitlyn Jenner Publicly Comes Out as a Trans Woman

In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner publicly came out as a trans woman after being known as Bruce Jenner for many years.

2015: Recognition from The Advocate and Out Magazine

In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was recognized as one of the runners-up for The Advocate's Person of the Year and included in Out magazine's Out100.

2015: Continued Support from Wheaties

When Jenner came out as a trans woman in 2015, General Mills stated that "Bruce Jenner continues to be a respected member of Team Wheaties." After backlash, they clarified, "Bruce Jenner has been a respected member of Team Wheaties, and Caitlyn Jenner will continue to be."

January 2016: Settlement with Howe's Stepchildren

In January 2016, Caitlyn Jenner settled with the stepchildren of Kim Howe, who died in the February 2015 car accident.

March 6, 2016: Premiere of I Am Cait Season 2

The second season of Jenner's docuseries, "I Am Cait", premiered on March 6, 2016.

March 2016: H&M Sport Partnership

Caitlyn Jenner became the face of H&M Sport in March 2016. Later that year, H&M released a short film about Jenner titled "Caitlyn Jenner's Greatest Victories: A Timeline."

April 8, 2016: MAC Cosmetics Collaboration

On April 8, 2016, MAC Cosmetics released "Finally Free," a lipstick created in collaboration with Caitlyn Jenner, with all proceeds benefiting the MAC AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative.

April 2016: Out Magazine's Power 50 List

Caitlyn Jenner was listed at No. 8 on Out magazine's Power 50 list in April 2016.

April 2016: Time 100 List

Caitlyn Jenner was listed in the Time 100, a list of the most influential people globally, in April 2016.

April 2016: Jenner and the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act

In April 2016, Caitlyn Jenner became an example in the debate about North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. Presidential candidate Donald Trump said Jenner could use any restroom at Trump Tower, which she did, posting a video about it.

May 2016: GLAAD Media Award for Jenner's Diane Sawyer Interview

Caitlyn Jenner's 2015 interview with Diane Sawyer won the Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine award at the GLAAD Media Awards in May 2016.

June 2016: Sports Illustrated Cover

Caitlyn Jenner became the first openly transgender person to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in June 2016.

June 2016: Jenner Featured in Kanye West's "Famous" Video and Epic Rap Battles of History

In June 2016, Caitlyn Jenner was depicted in Kanye West's "Famous" music video and appeared in an episode of Epic Rap Battles of History. The video sparked controversy, while the rap battle showcased both her pre- and post-transition identities.

June 2016: Donald Trump Pledges Support for LGBTQ Community

In June 2016, Donald Trump made a promise to fight for the LGBT community.

September 2016: Transparent Appearance

Jenner appeared in a dream sequence in an episode of the Amazon Prime series "Transparent."

2016: Caitlyn Jenner's Political Views and Actions in 2016

In 2016, Caitlyn Jenner expressed her political leanings towards conservatism and identified as a Republican. While she stopped short of endorsing Ted Cruz in the Republican presidential primaries, she expressed admiration for him. On her show "I Am Cait," she mentioned her lack of support for Donald Trump while believing he would be beneficial for women's issues. Jenner stated her opposition to Hillary Clinton and claimed to have voted for Trump in the presidential election, despite voter records indicating otherwise.

2016: The Advocate Cover Feature

In 2016, Caitlyn Jenner was featured on the cover of The Advocate magazine.

January 2017: Gender Confirmation Surgery

In January 2017, Caitlyn Jenner underwent gender confirmation surgery.

February 2017: Caitlyn Jenner Criticizes Trump's Transgender Bathroom Policy

In February 2017, when President Trump revoked federal guidelines allowing transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity, Caitlyn Jenner publicly criticized the decision on Twitter, calling it a "disaster" and reminding Trump of his promise to protect the LGBTQ community.

April 2017: Caitlyn Jenner Expresses Support for Same-Sex Marriage

Caitlyn Jenner publicly declared her support for same-sex marriage in April 2017.

April 25, 2017: Release of Jenner's Memoir

Caitlyn Jenner's memoir, "The Secrets of My Life," was published on April 25, 2017.

July 2017: Caitlyn Jenner Considers Senate Run and Condemns Trump's Transgender Military Ban

Caitlyn Jenner revealed her consideration of running for the U.S. Senate in California in the 2018 election in July 2017. Later that month, she strongly denounced Trump's order to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, publicly questioning his commitment to fighting for the LGBTQ community.

October 2018: Caitlyn Jenner Withdraws Support for Trump Over Transgender Policies

Caitlyn Jenner publicly withdrew her support for Donald Trump in October 2018, citing her disappointment with his administration's attacks on the transgender community. Her decision followed a proposal to limit the legal definition of gender to sex assigned at birth.

2018: All-Time Ranking

As of 2018, Jenner ranked 26th on the world all-time decathlon list and 9th on the American all-time list.

2018: Caitlyn Jenner Considers Running for US Senate

In 2018, Caitlyn Jenner considered running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

November 2019: Return to I'm a Celebrity

Caitlyn Jenner participated in the nineteenth season of the British version of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"

April 2021: Caitlyn Jenner Announces Candidacy for Governor of California

In early April 2021, reports surfaced of Caitlyn Jenner's potential candidacy for Governor of California in the recall election. Later that month, on April 23, she officially launched her campaign as a Republican candidate.

May 2021: Caitlyn Jenner's Stance on Transgender Athletes Sparks Controversy

During her gubernatorial campaign in May 2021, Caitlyn Jenner sparked controversy by stating her opposition to transgender girls competing in girls' sports at school, aligning with Republican views on the matter. Despite facing criticism from transgender rights advocates who questioned her commitment to their cause, Jenner defended her position on Twitter, emphasizing fairness and the need to protect girls' sports.

September 2021: Caitlyn Jenner Supports Texas Abortion Law

In September 2021, Caitlyn Jenner voiced her support for the Texas Heartbeat Act, which outlawed abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Despite widespread criticism of the law, Jenner defended a state's right to enact its own legislation while maintaining her stance on a woman's right to choose.

2021: The Masked Singer and Big Brother VIP Appearances

Caitlyn Jenner appeared as a contestant on the fifth season of "The Masked Singer" as "Phoenix" in 2021, becoming the show's first transgender contestant. She also participated in the Australian version of "Big Brother VIP" that same year.

2021: Jenner's Run for California Governor

In 2021, Caitlyn Jenner announced her candidacy for governor of California, sparking controversy and criticism from some LGBT activists due to her political views.

2022: Comments on Lia Thomas

Caitlyn Jenner expressed her views on transgender athlete Lia Thomas' victory in the NCAA Division I women's 500-yard freestyle event, sparking further debate in 2022.

2022: Jenner Racing Founded

In 2022, Caitlyn Jenner established Jenner Racing, a team participating in the W Series, an all-female open-wheel racing championship. Although the series was cut short, their driver, Jamie Chadwick, was named champion.