About
Jenner attendedSleepy Hollow High SchoolinSleepy Hollow, New York, for freshman and sophomore year[24][25]andNewtown High SchoolinNewtown, Connecticut, for junior and senior year, graduating in 1968.[26]Jenner earned afootballathletic scholarshipand attendedGraceland CollegeinLamoni, Iowa, but was forced to stop playing football because of a knee injury.[27]Recognizing Jenner's potential, Graceland track coachL. D. Weldonencouraged Jenner to switch to thedecathlon.[28]Jenner debuted as a decathlete in 1970 in theDrake Relaysdecathlon inDes Moines, Iowa, finishing in fifth place.[29]Jenner graduated from Graceland College in 1973 with a degree inphysical education.[30] After the event, Jenner took an American flag from a spectator and carried it during the victory lap, starting a tradition that became common among winning athletes.[57][58]Abandoning the vaulting poles in the stadium, with no intention of ever competing again, Jenner stated that: "In 1972, I made the decision that I would go four years and totally dedicate myself to what I was doing, and then I would move on after it was over with. I went into that competition knowing that would be the last time I would ever do this."[36]Jenner explained, "It hurts every day when you practice hard. Plus, when this decathlon is over, I got the rest of my life to recuperate. Who cares how bad it hurts?"[3] Jenner became a national hero and received theJames E. Sullivan Awardas the top amateur athlete in the United States. Jenner was named theAssociated PressMale Athlete of the Year in 1976.[2][27]