Speaking on BBC’s Don’t Tell Me the Score Podcast, the reality star, 70, noted that she ‘trained 12 years for the games and trained 65 years to transition in 2015’ but the latter proved to be ‘harder and less accepted, with many ‘hating her guts.’
Admitting that her Olympic training was a means of ‘running away from her issues’, the I Am Cait star recalled looking at herself in the mirror with her medal on while asking herself if ‘this was the person she was stuck with for the rest of her life.’
Caitlyn, previously known as Bruce, came out as transgender in 2015, after a glittering career which saw her nab a gold medal in the Men’s Decathlon at the 1976 Olympics before starring on Keeping Up With The Kardashians with now ex-wife Kris Jenner and their famous brood.
However, Caitlyn explained her transition was no easy feat, revealing: ‘I trained 12 years for the games. I trained 65 years to transition in 2015. It was harder to do, it was less accepted.’
Further detailing the harsh reality of the situation, Caitlyn noted: ”Everyone loved the games, a lot of people when they see you transition hate your guts. Look at the quotes on Instagram. By far that was a lot more difficult.
Caitlyn, who is a father of six children, cheekily added: ‘I have the great double. Olympic decathlon champion and Glamour’s Woman of the Year’.
She also discussed the impact struggling with dyslexia and gender dysphoria had on her sporting career.
‘Being gender dysphoric and dyslexic – that’s what made me down the line. When I got into sports, it became more important for me to succeed at sports and work hard at sports because of all these issues.’
However, Caitlyn explained that her high from winning soon came crashing down.
‘A lot of the training was really running away from the issues I had. I remember getting up the next morning, didn’t have a stitch of clothes on, walking to the bathroom, medal sitting there on the table, put the medal around my neck, looking in the mirror and I go: what have you just done?
Am I stuck with this person the rest of my life? Did you build up this person so big, that you’re stuck with him the rest of your life? It was scary.’
Life post transition has also come with its drawbacks, with Caitlyn explaining that she’s received criticism from the trans community for her activism.
‘Has it been easy? Not even close. I’ve raised about 2.6 million dollars, given it away to trans organisations. A lot of them are extraordinarily appreciative of it. On the other hand they’re having their big fundra,iser and say “oh please don’t show up you’re too controversial.”‘
Source: Daily Mail
