Joe Biden Presents Simone Biles With Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Simone Biles was one of 17 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden on Thursday afternoon. Biles first gained prominence at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics where she won several medals for individual performance. Biles is one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time, with 32 combined Olympics and world championship medals to her name.

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Biles became a worldwide champion for mental health when she decided to withdraw from several events at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, citing a developing issue with “the twisties,” a phenomenon where gymnasts lose air awareness during their routines.

Some Olympics fans and conservative media outlets insulted Biles for dropping out and accused her of being a quitter, but most supporters and fellow athletes rallied around her and her desire to preserve her mental health and well-being.

Other recipients of the medal were Megan Rapinoe and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Denzel Washington was meant to get a medal, but dropped out of the ceremony due to testing positive for Covid-199.