Jul 7, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Simone Biles becomes youngest Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient

Julia Shapero

President Biden presents gymnast Simone Biles with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients on July 7. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles became the youngest person ever to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday at 25 years of age.

Driving the news: President Joe Biden presented the nation's highest civilian honor to Biles and 16 other individuals, including former Rep. Gabby Giffords, the late Sen. John McCain and U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe.

What he's saying: Biles had the courage "to turn personal pain into greater purpose, to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves," Biden noted in his speech.

"Today, she adds to her medal count — I don't know where you're going to find room — of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals," he added.

The other recipients of the Medal of Freedom included:

Sister Simone Campbell
Former university president Julieta García
Civil rights lawyer Fred Gray
Apple founder Steve Jobs
Father Alexander Karloutsos
Gold Star father Khizr Khan
New York critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay
Civil rights activist Diane Nash
Former Sen. Alan Simpson
Former AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Brigadier General Wilma Vaught
Actor Denzel Washington
Civil rights advocate Raúl Yzaguirre.

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Simone Biles becomes youngest Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient

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