Bruce Jenner with his step-daughter Kim Kardashian (Photo : REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)
A symbol of Caitlyn Jenner's past career as a sportsman will be auctioned in Chicago on July 30. It is the 1984 Summer Olympics Torch that he carried through Lake Tahoe in Nevada.
The item, expected to be sold for at least $20,000, is the first major piece in Jenner's memorabilia to be auctioned. It is 24 inches in length, has a brass finish and leather handle. Heritage Auction will handle the sale at its Platinum Night Sports Auction.
Bob Lorsch, a philanthropist from Los Angeles, owns the torch as his reward for getting Jenner, who rose to fame when he won the 1976 Olympic Decathlon gold medal, to participate in the Tahoe leg of the torch run. His participation then was to promote area youth programs and support Caesars Tahoe's agenda to give back to the community.
The auction comes weeks after Jenner confirmed his gender shift from male to female. Chris Ivy, director of sports auction of Heritage, points out that "This torch serves as a wonderful symbol that masculinity and femininity are not mutually exclusive," quotes Associated Press. He adds that despite the decathlon being the ultimate proof of athletic prowess, "Jenner has played both gender roles masterfully."
In her public admission of gender transition, Caitlyn said that even during his Olympic days he had felt he was a woman.
In the 1984 torch relay, Jenner ran the last kilometer of the 50 kilometers that the hotel casino sponsored. The 49 other kilometers were ran by seven individuals and representatives of 42 local organizations that were selected through a draw.
At that time, Jenner told People that he agreed to carry the torch because he was impressed by how the Olympics host city, LA, handled the summer games. Back then, he said that he hated running. "I can't stand running. And I now people will laugh at me when they see my knees. But it's for a good cause, so I'll do it," Time quotes Jenner.
Before the auction, Caitlyn will be given on July 15 at the ESPY Awards the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in admiration of her public admission that the former athlete and stepfather of Kim Kardashian is now a transgender woman.
