ABCFans inspired by Bruce Jenner, who recently revealed in a ABC News interview that he's transitioning from a man to a woman, may be able to hear more from him about his life, in person.
(At this time, Jenner has not chosen to publicly identify as a woman and so E! News will continue to refer to him as Bruce and use male pronouns, until he indicates otherwise.)
The 65-year-old Olympian and Keeping Up With the Kardashians star is planning to return to motivational speaking, a source told E! News on Thursday, less than a week after he his candid sit-down with ABC News' Diane Sawyer aired.
Jenner, who gave motivational speeches regularly in the years before and after the Olympics, has not commented. Plans for his new speaking engagements were first reported by Us Weekly. The dates and subject matter of his speeches have not yet announced. It is also unclear if he will begin giving them before or after he completes his transition.
Jenner was touted as "inspiring" and "brave" and called a "hero" by many fans and members of his family after his interview with Sawyer aired last Friday. His notoriously private stepson, Rob Kardashian, tweeted, "You have always been a role model to me and now more than ever, I look up to you."
Many celebs also praised Jenner after watching his interview. Ellen DeGeneres called him a "beautiful, brave human being" and added, "He's saving lives and opening minds tonight." Star Trek Into Darkness actress Alice Eve was not as positive with her response, drawing criticism.
"Today, millions of people learned that someone they know is transgender," GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement after the interview aired. "By sharing this story, Bruce Jenner has shined a light on what it means to be transgender and live authentically in the face of unimaginable public scrutiny. Though Jenner's journey is one that is deeply personal, it is also one that will impact and inspire countless people around the world."
In the years before and after he won the Olympic gold medal for the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics, Jenner traveled around the United States giving motivational speeches at colleges and corporate events. His Olympic championship made him a superstar, landed him endorsement deals and boosted the public speaking invites.
The New York Times reported in 1977 that Jenner's fee for speaking at a college could run as high as $2,500, while he could earn double that amount for a speech at an industrial convention. In 1979, The Toledo Blade reported that Jenner had an average of 40 speaking engagements a year and was paid between $,5000 and $10,000 for each one.
"My speech is motivational," he told the United Press International (UPI) wire service months after the Olympics. "I stress everyone should strive for excellence in everything they undertake. Our whole system is based on competition and I believe in that."
"I relate my experiences as an athlete, explaining why one person is No. 1 and another is No. 2," he continued. "Then I show a short, slow-motion film clip of the last 200 meters of the 1,500-meter run at the Olympics—the final decathlon event—accompanied by 'To Dream the Impossible Dream.'"
Watch part of a past motivational speech by Jenner below.