The gold medal-winning decathlon star, who announced plans to transition from male to female in April (15), unveiled his new female identity as Caitlyn on Monday (01Jun15), when her new Vanity Fair magazine cover debuted online.

Jenner has since been given another reason to celebrate after learning bosses at sports network ESPN want to present her with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which is given to those who show "strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost".

Jenner, 65, will receive the accolade on 15 July (15), when he is expected to be supported onstage by his family, including stepdaughter Kim Kardashian.

The prize, named after late tennis great Arthur Ashe, has previously been presented to the likes of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, late South African president and civil rights activist Nelson Mandela, and American footballer Michael Sam, who became the first openly-gay athlete to be drafted into the National Football League (NFL) last year (14).