▲On July 7 2022, Simone Biles met with President Joe Biden to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The 25-year-old Olympic gymnast is the youngest person in history to be given this honor. This is the second time that Biles has made history, having already become the most decorated American gymnast of all time. A statement from the White House confirmed that Biles was chosen in recognition of her athletic achievements, but also for her work advocating for "athletes’ mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault."
Biles shared that the experience of receiving the medal was a little scary. "It is the best award you can receive for your whole life so now it's kind of scary like, 'Oh, what do I do now?' But it's a huge honor." She and Biden were seen laughing together as he put the medal around her neck.