Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe receive Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden
Gymnast Simone Biles and footballer Megan Rapinoe awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Four-time Olympic gymnastics gold medallist Simone Biles and two-time football World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday (7 July).
The sporting icons were among 17 recipients honoured by US President Joe Biden at the White House for their "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors".
Biles is the most decorated American gymnast of all-time, having clinched 32 Olympic and world championship medals.
The 25-year-old, who is the youngest ever to receive the honour, is an advocate for athletes' mental health and sexual assault victims.
Rapinoe, who also won Olympic gold with Team USA at London 2012, has been very outspoken about gender pay equality, racial matters and LGBTQ rights.
The pair were recognised alongside other high-profile recipients including actor Denzel Washington and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
