Joe Biden honors Megan Rapinoe and Simone Biles with Medal of Freedom

Raymond McKinnon

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US President Joe Biden (79) honored around 17 personalities in the White House with the Medal of Freedom on Thursday, including soccer world champion Megan Rapinoe (37) and US gymnast Simone Biles (25). The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States and is awarded for outstanding service. The joy was written all over the faces of the athletes at the award ceremony and Biden also praised the two in the highest tones.

Simone Biles, who made her mental problems public at the Tokyo Olympics last year, is a “pioneer” and a “role model”. Biden enthused at the award ceremony that she had given her personal pain a greater meaning and now speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Megan Rapinoe described the US President as “an advocate of the fundamental American truth that every human being has the right to be treated with dignity and respect”. The 37-year-old recently fought successfully for equality for US soccer players. The US soccer association and the unions of the women’s and men’s national teams agreed on a corresponding collective agreement in May, which among other things guarantees equal pay for players.

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Von Denzel Washington bis Steve Jobs

In addition to Biles and Rapinoe, other celebrities have received the special award, including Democratic politician Gabrielle Giffords (52). In 2011, she was critically injured in an attack that killed six people. Actor Denzel Washington (67) also received a medal of freedom, but he could not be there due to a corona infection. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs (1955-2011) and Republican Senator John McCain (136-2018) were honored posthumously.

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