Caitlyn Jenner named runner-up for TIME Person of the Year 2015

Caitlyn Jenner is a runner up for TIME magazine’s Person of the Year, losing the distinction to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Caitlyn Jenner is a runner up for TIME’s Person of the Year, losing the distinction to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Jenner made headlines this year when she announced her gender transition in April. She was formerly known as Bruce Jenner, who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

In the wake of her transition, Jenner was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS in July.

In a video interview with TIME discussing the Person of the Year award, Jenner discussed her transition and her hopes to advocate for the transgender community.

“I want to make a positive impact on this community and on the world,” Jenner said. “This happens all over the world, and it’s something almost nobody understands....There’s a lot of work to be done. I am so excited about the future, and hopefully I can have an impact in opening up this conversation.”

Merkel becomes the fourth woman to win Person of the Year, and the first since 1986. Other finalists for the Time award included Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter activists, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

- Erin Flynn