Comment On Thursday, Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe graced the most dignified room in Washington. Biles entered first, and the vice president’s smiling eyes and clapping hands followed her onto the stage. Rapinoe wore an all-white suit and sat closer to the full-length portrait of George Washington. Between them in rows of gold-legged chairs sat a gathering of Firsts and Founders: to name a few, the first American to receive the coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials and the founder of a center defined by its constitutional education and debate. Inside the East Room, one of the White House’s largest and still too small to host today’s event, Biles and Rapinoe were the only two athletes from the group of 17 to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor of the nation awarded to citizens . Biden honors 17 people with Presidential Medal of Freedom All around them were people whose life stories could fill history books about the best ideals and worst impulses seen in modern America. In the front row, masked and glowing in pink was Diane Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolence Coordinating Committee. In the back row, center, sat former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who had to learn to walk and talk again after being shot in the head. Next to her was Laurene Powell Jobs, who attended on behalf of her late husband Steve, the co-founder of Apple. The two athletes closed the ranks of civil rights icons and decorated politicians, and yet they were a perfect match. Rapinoe and Biles burst into the nation’s consciousness as Team USA athletes. In two Olympics, Biles became the most decorated American athlete in history. Rapinoe cemented her legacy as a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist by extending her arms, leaning just so and striking a triumphant pose after one of her clutch goals. Their achievements on the mat, beam or court have changed their respective sports, but that’s not why the women were invited to the White House on Thursday. As transcendent as they are as athletes, Rapinoe and Biles have proven far better in their roles as brave and unyielding advocates. The last time Biles made a public appearance in Washington, she testified on Capitol Hill. Although it was the last place she wanted to be, Biles told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as the public about the emotional scars she faced after surviving sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, the disgraced doctor who was formerly partner of USA Gymnastics. As a testament to her greatness, Biles still stands above all other American gymnasts despite only adding one bronze at the 2020 Games. Before Tokyo, dealing with trauma proved to be “too much,” he said later. Biles retired from individual competition specifically to focus on mental health. Her choice made her more human than the GOAT And sports can use more humans. President Biden began the presentation by focusing on Biles — she had the alphabetical advantage. More than that, she has the distinction of being the youngest recipient of the Medal of Freedom at just 25 years old. “He turned personal pain into a greater cause, to stand up and speak for those who can’t speak for themselves,” Biden said. “Today she adds to her medal tally.” Then, reading a spotlight at the back of the room, Biden turned his attention to the first football player to be honored as a Medal of Freedom recipient. “Where’s Megan? Megan, where are you?’ Biden asked before beginning his remarks. He didn’t notice the pink haired Rapinoe sitting right behind him, as cheeky as ever, she leaned in closer and waved. Everything about Rapinoe’s colorful hair and playful personality make her an easy choice for underwater sandwiches, vodka shots or credit cards. In 2021, her endorsement money placed her just outside the top 10 highest-earning female athletes, according to Forbes. But while helping the US national soccer team remain the most dominant in the world, Rapinoe and her teammates were paid less than the men. The national team filed a class-action lawsuit that became a six-year trial, and Rapinoe also took her case to Washington. Last year, she testified about gender discrimination before the House Oversight and Reform Committee and later appeared with Biden as he signed the Equal Pay Day proclamation. “I know there are millions of people who are gender marginalized in the world and experience the same thing in their jobs. And I know there are people who experience even more, where the layers of discrimination continue to pile up against them. And me and my teammates are here for them,” Rapinoe said during this White House event. “We at the US Women’s National Team are here today because of them.” In February, the U.S. women’s national team settled with U.S. Soccer for $24 million. Before acknowledging this achievement, Biden took a detour through history. He turned to Rapinoe as he recalled the excitement his granddaughter, a high school athlete, had when she met her. She’s punched goals and posed like a Greek god, but for generations to come, Rapinoe’s legacy will be her fierce support off the court. “He helped lead the change for perhaps the most important victory for anyone on the football team or any football team — equal pay for women,” Biden said as thunderous applause broke out in the room. The ceremony continued. Fred Gray, the lawyer who represented Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and the NAACP during the civil rights struggle, sat cross-legged, flashing his red socks until he rose on his own to be adorned with a medal. At 91, he is still practicing law. Cindy McCain rolled her eyes as Biden remembered her late husband, Sen. John McCain. Sandra Lindsey, the New York nurse and vaccine advocate, reached out to comfort McCain. And after the Gold Star father, the Catholic priest, the son of the late AFL-CIO president, the gymnast and the football player and everyone else had received their medals, the president made a final statement. “This is America,” Biden said.
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