Almost a year after gracing the cover of Vanity Fair, Caitlyn Jenner has made the cover of this month’s Sports Illustrated. Before becoming part of the Kardashian clan, Jenner was a successful decathlon athlete. Now, Jenner is showing off her Olympic gold medal she won in the 1976 Summer Olympics on the mag’s cover.
This isn’t the first time Sports Illustrated has featured a transgender athlete in their magazine. In 2012, the publication did a profile on Keelin Godsey. But this week Jenner has broken ground by being the first transgender athlete on a Sports Illustrated cover.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/747767272228462593
In her interview, Jenner looks back on winning. Despite it being a great achievement, that many athletes don’t accomplish, it can feel insignificant to her at times.
“Sports. It’s not real life. You go out there, you work hard, you train your ass off, win the Games,” she told Sports Illustrated. “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.”
Twitter’s reaction is mixed. There are supportive people.
Caitlyn Jenner poses on 'SI' cover sporting gold medal @CNN https://t.co/D2b26iY02L
Looks great for 66!
— Bella Bee (@SmileyYYC) June 28, 2016
How awesome! <3
— Kim Falk Wheetley (@kimwheetley) June 28, 2016
There are others who don’t think Jenner should be on the cover.
https://twitter.com/2Biblez/status/747815592913178624
Caitlyn Jenner gave up the life of a man. Quit getting on sports illustrated covers. She/he literally said that life is over & regretted.
— Jayla (@Jfostaaa) June 28, 2016
And of course, people who are neutral.
@jennaisntabird Some don't get why Caitlyn Jenner is on the cover of SI "Where are they now?" issue. 40 yrs ago…gold medal….that's why.
— mike (@logos712) June 28, 2016
[H/T: NY Magazine]
