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)

1. Robert J.H. Kiphuth – Swimming Coach (1963)

By President Gerald Ford

2. Jesse Owens – Track & Field (1976)
3. Joe DiMaggio – Baseball (1977)

By President Ronald Reagan

4. Paul “Bear” Bryant* – Football Coach (1983)
5. Jackie Robinson* – Baseball (1984)
6. Earl Blaik – Football (1986)
7. Pierre, Comte Baruzy – Boxing / WWII Resistance (1984)

By President George H.W. Bush

8. Richard Petty – Auto Racing (1992)
9. Ted Williams – Baseball (1991)

By President Bill Clinton

10. Arthur Ashe* – Tennis (1993)

By President George W. Bush

11. Hank Aaron – Baseball (2002)
12. Roberto Clemente* – Baseball (2003)
13. John Wooden – Basketball Coach (2003)
14. Arnold Palmer – Golf (2004)
15. Jack Nicklaus – Golf (2005)
16. Muhammad Ali – Boxing (2005)
17. Frank Robinson – Baseball (2005)
18. Buck O’Neil* – Baseball (2006)

By President Barack Obama

19. Billie Jean King – Tennis (2009)
20. Bill Russell – Basketball (2011)
21. Pat Summitt – Basketball Coach (2012)
22. Dean Smith – Basketball Coach (2013)
23. Ernie Banks – Baseball (2013)
24. Charlie Sifford – Golf (2014)
25. Yogi Berra* – Baseball (2015)
26. Willie Mays – Baseball (2015)
27. Vin Scully – Broadcasting (2016)
28. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Basketball (2016)
29. Michael Jordan – Basketball (2016)

By President Donald Trump (First Term)

30. Babe Ruth* – Baseball (2018)
31. Roger Staubach – Football (2018)
32. Alan Page – Football (2018)
33. Tiger Woods – Golf (2019)
34. Jerry West – Basketball (2019)
35. Dan Gable – Wrestling (2020)
36. Jim Ryun – Athletics (2020)

By President Joe Biden

37. Simone Biles – Gymnastics (2022)
38. Megan Rapinoe – Soccer (2022)
39. Babe Didrikson – Track & Field / Golf (2021–22)
40. Katie Ledecky – Swimming (2024)
41. Jim Thorpe* – Athletics / NFL (2024)
42. Lionel Messi – Football (2025)
43. Magic Johnson – Basketball (2025)
44. Michelle Yeoh – Sports Administration / IOC (2024)

By President Donald Trump (Second Term)

45. 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.