While most people are celebrating Caitlyn Jenner, or Bruce Jenner’s real identity and gateway to finding peace, ESPN’s decision to reward her with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award was not popularly received. Many believe that the award should be given to Lauren Hill instead, the college basketball player who died of brain cancer, but showed the world such illness cannot stop her from playing a good game.

On Monday afternoon, following the reveal of Caitlyn Jenner, Bruce Jenner’s final transformation as a woman on the cover of Vanity Fair, ESPN announced that Jenner would be given the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award at next month’s ESPY. According to ESPN, the former gold Olympian deserves the award for "(showing) the courage to embrace a truth that had been hidden for years and to embark on a journey that may not only give comfort to those facing similar circumstances, but can also help to educate people on the challenges that the transgender community faces."

Even though fans of the network did not diss Caitlyn for being lauded as courageous and many applauded her decision to finally come out, many do not see the merit of her getting the award either. Instead, they believe college basketball player Lauren Hill, who recently lost to her battle with a brain tumour, should receive it. Hill, up to her last moments, showed passion for the game and courage to play despite her worsening condition. Fans claimed that nobody can be considered more courageous than Lauren Hill when it comes to sports.

NY Daily News reported that most people claimed that they are happy that Jenner is finally at peace with her identity, but could not understand why ESPN missed out on Lauren Hill when they decided who to give the award to. Apart from playing her heart out, Lauren dedicated her final months to raising funds to fight cancer. She was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma, a brain condition that affects children and unfortunately, has a low recovery rate.

Her work raised $1 million for pediatric cancer research with a Cincinnati telethon for The Cure Starts Now Foundation. On April 5, she was presented with the Pat Summit Courage Award. However, she died five days later at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

ESPN however, maintains that the decision to award Caitlyn Jenner was met with overwhelmingly positive response.

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