Biles, Rapinoe among Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
Send a link to a friend
 [July 02, 2022] By
Amy Tennery
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four-times gymnastics Olympic gold medallist
Simone Biles and twice soccer World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe are
among 17 people set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
the highest United States' civilian honour, the White House said on
Friday.
The honour, awarded to those who have made "exemplary contributions"
to the United States, global peace or other endeavors, will be
presented on July 7.
"These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities
and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and
faith," the White House said in a statement.
Other honorees include Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington
and the late U.S. Senator John McCain.
The White House recognised 25-year-old Biles not only for her
achievement in competition but as a "prominent advocate for
athletes’ mental health and safety, children in the foster care
system, and victims of sexual assault."
Last year she testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
that U.S. gymnastics and Olympics officials failed to stop the
sexual abuse athletes suffered from former doctor Larry Nassar, and
she brought the issue of athletes' mental health to the
international stage at the Tokyo Games.
With 32 Olympic and world medals, she is the most decorated American
gymnast.
The 36-year-old Rapinoe, who won Olympic gold with the U.S. in 2012,
is the first soccer player to receive the honour.
The pink-haired leader on and off the pitch emerged as an advocate
for gender pay equity in her national team's legal dispute with
their governing body and has been a vocal supporter of the Black
Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ rights.
[to top of second column] |
Bronze medallist Simone Biles of the United States celebrates on the
podium REUTERS/Mike Blake
The 2019 Ballon d'Or winner credited quarterback
and political activist Colin Kaepernick and tennis pioneer Billie
Jean King, who advocated gender pay equality, among the athletes who
blazed a trail for her.
"I feel like I'm not here without any of you," she said on Friday at
an emotional news conference, in which she celebrated her team mates
and former national team players alike.
She also heaped praise on fellow honoree Biles saying: "If I could
be Simone Biles' red carpet that she can walk across, I would do
that."
During the 2019 World Cup, Rapinoe famously sparked the ire of
former Republican U.S. President Donald Trump, when she said in an
expletive-laced remark that she would not be visiting the White
House if the Americans won.
Three years to the day after the U.S. won the World Cup, Rapinoe is
more than happy to attend the ceremony overseen by Democratic
President Joe Biden.
"You guys," she told reporters on Friday, "I'm going to the fucking
White House."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Toby Davis and Ken
Ferris)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
