The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honour in the United States. It recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to national interests, world peace, culture, or other significant public and private endeavours. Over the decades, many legendary athletes, Olympians, coaches, and sports contributors have received this historic honour for impacting society far beyond their sporting achievements.
With Connor Hellebuyck, the hero of Team USA’s 2026 Olympic men’s hockey triumph, now set to receive the medal, the spotlight is once again on sports icons who have earned this prestigious recognition.
This article covers how many sports figures have received the award, why they were honoured, and the complete, detailed list across all U.S. presidential administrations.
How Many Athletes Have Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
A total of 45 sports figures — including athletes, coaches, broadcasters, and Olympians — have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom since the award was created in 1963.
The list spans:
- Olympic champions
- Global sports ambassadors
- Civil rights pioneers
- Hall of Famers
- Coaches who transformed American sports
The honour goes far beyond athletic records — it reflects societal influence, legacy, and cultural impact.
Why Athletes Receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Athletes are honoured for:
- Exceptional achievements in their sport
- Contributions to American culture
- Breaking barriers and inspiring generations
- Representing the U.S. on the world stage
- Community leadership and humanitarian work
These awards celebrate athletes whose influence extends far beyond competition.
Connor Hellebuyck Joins an Elite Group (2026)
In 2026, Connor Hellebuyck became the newest sports figure selected for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He earned this honour after:
- Making 41 saves in the Olympic gold medal match
- Ending a 46-year drought for USA men’s hockey
- Cementing his status as one of the greatest goalies of his era
- Winning 3 Vezina Trophies & 1 Hart Trophy in the NHL
Chants of “U-S-A!” echoed through the State of the Union chamber as the announcement was made. Hellebuyck now joins a historic lineage of iconic athletes.
List of All Sports Figures Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
This is the full, definitive list combining every athlete, coach, and sports figure honoured with the award.
By President John F. Kennedy (1963)
- Robert J.H. Kiphuth – Swimming Coach (1963)
By President Gerald Ford
- Jesse Owens – Track & Field (1976)
- Joe DiMaggio – Baseball (1977)
By President Ronald Reagan
- Paul “Bear” Bryant* – Football Coach (1983)
- Jackie Robinson* – Baseball (1984)
- Earl Blaik – Football (1986)
- Pierre, Comte Baruzy – Boxing / WWII Resistance (1984)
By President George H.W. Bush
- Richard Petty – Auto Racing (1992)
- Ted Williams – Baseball (1991)
By President Bill Clinton
- Arthur Ashe* – Tennis (1993)
By President George W. Bush
- Hank Aaron – Baseball (2002)
- Roberto Clemente* – Baseball (2003)
- John Wooden – Basketball Coach (2003)
- Arnold Palmer – Golf (2004)
- Jack Nicklaus – Golf (2005)
- Muhammad Ali – Boxing (2005)
- Frank Robinson – Baseball (2005)
- Buck O’Neil* – Baseball (2006)
By President Barack Obama
- Billie Jean King – Tennis (2009)
- Bill Russell – Basketball (2011)
- Pat Summitt – Basketball Coach (2012)
- Dean Smith – Basketball Coach (2013)
- Ernie Banks – Baseball (2013)
- Charlie Sifford – Golf (2014)
- Yogi Berra* – Baseball (2015)
- Willie Mays – Baseball (2015)
- Vin Scully – Broadcasting (2016)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Basketball (2016)
- Michael Jordan – Basketball (2016)
By President Donald Trump (First Term)
- Babe Ruth* – Baseball (2018)
- Roger Staubach – Football (2018)
- Alan Page – Football (2018)
- Tiger Woods – Golf (2019)
- Jerry West – Basketball (2019)
- Dan Gable – Wrestling (2020)
- Jim Ryun – Athletics (2020)
By President Joe Biden
- Simone Biles – Gymnastics (2022)
- Megan Rapinoe – Soccer (2022)
- Babe Didrikson – Track & Field / Golf (2021–22)
- Katie Ledecky – Swimming (2024)
- Jim Thorpe* – Athletics / NFL (2024)
- Lionel Messi – Football (2025)
- Magic Johnson – Basketball (2025)
- Michelle Yeoh – Sports Administration / IOC (2024)
By President Donald Trump (Second Term)
- Connor Hellebuyck – Ice Hockey (2026)
Summary of All Honoured Sports Figures
| No. | Name | Sport / Role | Year | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert J.H. Kiphuth | Swimming Coach | 1963 | Kennedy |
| 2 | Jesse Owens | Track & Field | 1976 | Ford |
| 3 | Joe DiMaggio | Baseball | 1977 | Ford |
| 4 | Paul “Bear” Bryant* | Football Coach | 1983 | Reagan |
| 5 | Jackie Robinson* | Baseball | 1984 | Reagan |
| 6 | Earl Blaik | Football | 1986 | Reagan |
| 7 | Pierre Baruzy | Boxing | 1984 | Reagan |
| 8 | Richard Petty | Auto Racing | 1992 | G.H.W. Bush |
| 9 | Ted Williams | Baseball | 1991 | G.H.W. Bush |
| 10 | Arthur Ashe* | Tennis | 1993 | Clinton |
| 11 | Hank Aaron | Baseball | 2002 | G.W. Bush |
| 12 | Roberto Clemente* | Baseball | 2003 | G.W. Bush |
| 13 | John Wooden | Basketball Coach | 2003 | G.W. Bush |
| 14 | Arnold Palmer | Golf | 2004 | G.W. Bush |
| 15 | Jack Nicklaus | Golf | 2005 | G.W. Bush |
| 16 | Muhammad Ali | Boxing | 2005 | G.W. Bush |
| 17 | Frank Robinson | Baseball | 2005 | G.W. Bush |
| 18 | Buck O’Neil* | Baseball | 2006 | G.W. Bush |
| 19 | Billie Jean King | Tennis | 2009 | Obama |
| 20 | Bill Russell | Basketball | 2011 | Obama |
| 21 | Pat Summitt | Basketball Coach | 2012 | Obama |
| 22 | Dean Smith | Basketball Coach | 2013 | Obama |
| 23 | Ernie Banks | Baseball | 2013 | Obama |
| 24 | Charlie Sifford | Golf | 2014 | Obama |
| 25 | Yogi Berra* | Baseball | 2015 | Obama |
| 26 | Willie Mays | Baseball | 2015 | Obama |
| 27 | Vin Scully | Broadcasting | 2016 | Obama |
| 28 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Basketball | 2016 | Obama |
| 29 | Michael Jordan | Basketball | 2016 | Obama |
| 30 | Babe Ruth* | Baseball | 2018 | Trump |
| 31 | Roger Staubach | Football | 2018 | Trump |
| 32 | Alan Page | Football | 2018 | Trump |
| 33 | Tiger Woods | Golf | 2019 | Trump |
| 34 | Jerry West | Basketball | 2019 | Trump |
| 35 | Dan Gable | Wrestling | 2020 | Trump |
| 36 | Jim Ryun | Athletics | 2020 | Trump |
| 37 | Simone Biles | Gymnastics | 2022 | Biden |
| 38 | Megan Rapinoe | Soccer | 2022 | Biden |
| 39 | Babe Didrikson | ATH/Golf | 2021–22 | Biden |
| 40 | Katie Ledecky | Swimming | 2024 | Biden |
| 41 | Jim Thorpe* | ATH/NFL | 2024 | Biden |
| 42 | Lionel Messi | Football | 2025 | Biden |
| 43 | Magic Johnson | Basketball | 2025 | Biden |
| 44 | Michelle Yeoh | IOC / Sports Gov | 2024 | Biden |
| 45 | Connor Hellebuyck | Ice Hockey | 2026 | Trump |
*Posthumous Awards
Conclusion
The Presidential Medal of Freedom represents more than athletic excellence — it honours leaders, role models, and pioneers whose influence reaches beyond sport. From Jesse Owens to Simone Biles, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, and now Connor Hellebuyck, each recipient has left a lasting mark on American culture and global sport.
With 45 total sports figures honoured to date, the list continues to grow as new generations redefine greatness.
