The 65-year-old former Olympian – who was known as Bruce Jenner before her gender transition – is extremely thankful for the support of biological kids Brody, Burt, Brandon, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Cassandra Marino, and stepchildren Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Rob Kardashian.

Speaking to Robin Roberts backstage at the ESPY Awards, she said: “I am just great to be in a position where myself and my family have been so supportive of what is happening.

“You know, my kids are great.

“My kids are absolutely wonderful. I am blessed to have just wonderful children.”

Caitlyn picked up the Arthur Ashe Courage Award – which is named in honor of the African-American tennis hero who died in 1993 from AIDS-related pneumonia – at the ceremony and admitted making her speech “wasn’t easy”.

She added: “I knew Arthur Ashe and I sat out there in the audience on many an occasion and I thought to myself, ‘Boy, what if someday I could make a difference in the world and do what I’m doing. I wonder if I will ever get that?’

“Tonight was the night.”

The ‘I Am Cait’ star used her speech to urge athletes to promote a greater acceptance of transgender people and was visibly emotional as she addressed the audience.

She said: “This transition has been harder on me than anything I could have imagined.

“And that’s the case for so many others besides me. For that reason alone, trans people deserve something vital. They deserve your respect.

“And from that respect comes a more compassionate community, a more empathetic society, and a better world for all of us.”