Biden awards medal of freedom to Biles, Rapinoe, late Senator McCain
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[July 08, 2022]
By Nandita Bose and Amy Tennery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gymnastics pioneer
Simone Biles and twice World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe were among 17
honorees to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House
on Thursday from Joe Biden.
The highest U.S. civilian award is given to those who make an
"especially meritorious contribution to the security or national
interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other
significant public or private endeavors."
The most decorated American gymnast with a combined 32 Olympic and world
championships medals, Biles performed gravity-defying routines and at
the Tokyo Games emerged as a champion for athlete wellness and mental
health.
"When she stands on a podium, we see what she is: Absolute courage to
turn personal pain into greater purpose. To stand up and speak for those
who cannot speak for themselves," Biden said.
The youngest-ever Medal of Freedom honoree, the 25-year-old testified
before the Senate Judiciary Committee that U.S. gymnastics and Olympics
officials failed to stop the sexual abuse athletes suffered from former
doctor Larry Nassar.
"Today she adds to her medal count - how are we going to find room?"
Biden said.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jul/08/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Rapinoe, soccer's fiery, pink-haired leader on and off the pitch, won
Olympic gold in 2012 and emerged as a leading advocate for gender pay
equity in her national team's legal dispute with their governing body.
"Megan is a champion for essential American truth:
That everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect," said
Biden.
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![](../images/070822PIX/news_h63.jpg)
U.S. President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to
U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team player soccer player Megan Rapinoe
during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington,
U.S., July 7, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/22/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
Rapinoe received her medal with a handshake and wink to Biden, in a
white suit jacket with the initials "BG" embroidered on the lapel,
an apparent nod to WNBA All Star Brittney Griner, who has been
detained in Russia since February on a drug charge.
Other recipients included late Senator John McCain, former
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a survivor of gun violence and an
advocate for gun violence prevention, and Academy Award-winning
actor Denzel Washington. McCain's fellow posthumous honorees
included former AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Apple's Steve
Jobs.
"I am the guy who encouraged John (McCain) to run for office," Biden
said. "I knew what incredible courage, intellect and conscience he
had."
Honorees also included Sister Simone Campbell, former University of
Texas at Brownsville President Julieta García, Father Alexander
Karloutsos, Gold Star father Khizr Khan, critical care nurse Sandra
Lindsay, civil rights advocates Diane Nash and Fred Gray, former
Senator Alan Simpson, Brigadier General Wilma Vaught and activist
Raúl Yzaguirre.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington and Amy Tennery in New
York; Editing by Howard Goller)
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