Former U.S. Olympic hero Bruce Jenner: 'I am a woman'

In a one-on-one interview with ABC's Dianne Sawyer, former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner said he's struggled with gender identity for most of his life.

Bruce Jenner won the decathlon gold medal at the 1976 Olympics. (Getty Images)

Former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner revealed in an interview with ABC's Dianne Sawyer that he identifies with being a woman.

"For all intents and purposes, I am a woman," Jenner said. "People look at me differently. They see you as this macho male, but my heart and my soul and everything that I do in life -- it is part of me. That female side is part of me. That's who I am."

Jenner, 65, was hailed as one of the greatest athletes of his time. At the 1976 Olympics, Jenner tallied a then-world record 8,616 points in the decathlon. 

Following his athletic career, Jenner dabbled in acting and auto racing before co-starring in the reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.