Jenner receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award at ESPYs

LOS ANGELES – Caitlyn Jenner accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs on Wednesday night while urging acceptance for others who are transgender.

She received a standing ovation from some of the sporting world’s biggest stars after her 10-minute speech during the annual awards honoring the year’s top athletes and moments.

“This transition has been harder on me than anything I can imagine,” said Jenner, who revealed she was in the process of becoming a woman in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer in April on ABC.

Noting her powerful celebrity platform, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion and reality TV star vowed “to do whatever I can to reshape the landscape of how transgender people are viewed and treated.”

Abby Wambach of the U.S. soccer team that won the Women’s World Cup presented the trophy to Jenner, whose voice broke as she thanked members of her famous family, including stepdaughters Kim and Khloe Kardashian. Tears welled in the eyes of Jenner’s younger daughter, Kylie, whose sister, Kendall, wiped a tear from her eye.

“I never wanted to hurt anyone else, most of all my family and my kids,” said Jenner, wiping her eye.

The 65-year-old told the audience about trans teenagers who are bullied, beaten up, murdered or kill themselves. Jenner mentioned two people by name whose deaths particularly touched her.

“Trans people deserve something vital, they deserve your respect,” she said.

Reaction among Jenner’s sporting peers on the red carpet was mixed.

Little League baseball pitcher Mo’ne Davis called Jenner brave.

“She’s really brave to have the courage to get through a lot of those things,” said the 14-year-old who won best breakthrough athlete. “I know a lot of people give her a hard time about it but just for her family to give her that support is amazing.”

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield said, “I just know that’s Bruce Jenner and I’ll leave it at that.”

Jenner’s selection to receive the Ashe award named for the late tennis player who died in 1993 after contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion generated strong debate online.

Online critics said college basketball player Lauren Hill, who died of brain cancer in April, was deserving of the honor.