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U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Simone Biles, Olympic gold medal gymnast and psychological well being advocate, throughout a ceremony within the East Room of the White Home July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photograph by Alex Wong/Getty Photographs)
Olympic gymnast and LGBTQ+ activist Simone Biles has turn out to be the youngest residing particular person to obtain the Presidential Medal of Freedom after US President Joe Biden awarded her the honour.
The 25-year-old was among the many 17 honourees who had been awarded the medal in a ceremony on the White Home on Thursday (7 July). She is without doubt one of the most embellished US gymnasts in historical past with 32 Olympic and world championship medals – together with 4 gold Olympic medals, one silver and two bronze.
“I don’t know for those who’re going to search out room,” president Biden joked whereas delivering a speech to attendees on the athlete’s historical past. “After we see her compete, we see unmatched energy and willpower, grace and daring. A trailblazer and a job mannequin.”
Biles received her first set of Olympic-level medals on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics the place she turned the primary feminine US gymnast to win 4 medals at a single Video games. She was additionally the primary gymnast to win three world all-around titles from 2013 to 2015.
In her spare time, Simone Biles has been an outspoken advocate for numerous deprived teams, in addition to a staunch LGBTQ+ ally. Her defence of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly at a time when their participation in sports activities is more and more disputed, is a logo of hope for athletes the world over.
In 2020, she obtained backlash from anti-LGBTQ+ protestors after that includes in an Uber Eats advert with Queer Eye’s Johnathon Van Ness the place they carried out numerous splits and stunts. In response, the supply firm lambasted claims that it was “pushing the LGBTQ+ agenda on households”, saying that “at Uber Eats, we’re unapologetically dedicated to representing the flavour spectrum.”
“When she stands on the rostrum, we see what she is,” Biden continued. “Absolute braveness to show private ache right into a higher objective, to face up and converse for many who can’t converse for themselves.”
In addition to Biles, a number of different late and nice figureheads had been picked to obtain the honour, together with late politician and US Navy Officer John McCain, award-winning actor Denzel Washington and Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs, who died in 2011.
Megan Rapinoe was additionally in attendance to obtain the medal, changing into the primary soccer participant to earn the honour. She and Biles are among the many few feminine athletes to be awarded the medal.
Rapinoe donned a white go well with that had a dedication to WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner – who has been detained in Russia for months on medicine costs – embroidered on the jacket.
The soccer co-captain additionally spoke out in an Instagram story submit after Griner’s plea had been introduced, saying: “This plea doesn’t change that @potus must and is working exhausting to get her dwelling.
“From what I perceive she needed to plea to maintain the method of getting her dwelling asap in movement.”
Simply hours previous to the ceremony, Griner pleaded responsible to the costs, saying that “there was no intent. I didn’t wish to break the legislation”.
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