--- title: Caitlyn Jenner's ESPY Award: ESPN Execs Explain description: “I think that once Caitlyn’s decision became public it really was something very unique," ESPY Producer Maura Mandt said of the decision. canonical: https://time.com/3955433/caitlyn-jenner-espy-award/ author: Katy Osborn article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-13T16:15:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:57:11.145Z og:title: How ESPN Decided to Give Courage Award to Caitlyn Jenner og:description: “I think that once Caitlin’s decision became public it really was something very unique" og:url: https://time.com/3955433/caitlyn-jenner-espy-award/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3538028af71b9ce6/69885a988e0601f86a4615ae/caitlyn-jenner4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Caitlyn Jenner og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How ESPN Decided to Give Courage Award to Caitlyn Jenner twitter:description: “I think that once Caitlin’s decision became public it really was something very unique" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3538028af71b9ce6/69885a988e0601f86a4615ae/caitlyn-jenner4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How ESPN Decided to Give Courage Award to Caitlyn Jenner by [Katy Osborn](https://time.com/author/katy-osborn/) ## Katy Osborn Jul 13, 2015 4:15 PM UTC  Caitlyn Jenner seen leaving 'An American in Paris' Broadway show in a bright blue lace dress on June 30, 2015 in New York. Caitlyn Jenner seen leaving 'An American in Paris' Broadway show in a bright blue lace dress on June 30, 2015 in New York.Josiah Kamau — Getty Images/BuzzFoto by [Katy Osborn](https://time.com/author/katy-osborn/) ## Katy Osborn Jul 13, 2015 4:15 PM UTC ESPN has [explained](http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/12/caitlin-jenner-espnys-espn-adam-schefter-jason-pierre-paul) its [controversial](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/06/bob-costas-caitlyn-jenner-arthur-ashe-award-criticize-crass-exploitation-play) decision to give one of the most prestigious awards in sports to Caitlyn Jenner, the long-retired Olympic athlete who came out as a transgender woman earlier this year. The announcement that Jenner would receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year’s ESPYs Awards was met with some criticism, with sportscaster Bob Costa calling it a “[crass exploitation play](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/06/bob-costas-caitlyn-jenner-arthur-ashe-award-criticize-crass-exploitation-play)” designed to boost ratings. But two ESPN executives, ESPYs co-executive producer Maura Mandt and ESPN senior vice president Connor Schell, publicly defended the honor in an [interview](http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/12/caitlin-jenner-espnys-espn-adam-schefter-jason-pierre-paul) with _Sports Illustrated_. “Bruce Jenner could have easily gone off into the sunset as this American hero and never have dealt with this publicly,” Mandt said of the decision. “That is what the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is about, somebody from the athletic community who has done something that transcends sport.” Read the full story at [_Sports Illustrated_](http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/12/caitlin-jenner-espnys-espn-adam-schefter-jason-pierre-paul). 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