US women’s national team player Megan Rapinoe will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 7 at the White House.
The award recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.
She stands as the first soccer player to be chosen for the award.
Rapinoe will be one of just six figures from women’s sports to ever receive the award, joining Olympic gold medallists Simone Biles and Babe Didrickson Zaharias, tennis star and civil rights icon Billie Jean King, professional golfer Annika Sörenstam, and basketball coach Pat Summitt.
“I’m just shook. Totally overwhelmed, and just completely honored by this. It’s really hard to find the words to express how special this is and what this means to me,” Rapinoe told reporters on a press call on Friday.
Rapinoe also credited Colin Kaepernick, the Williams sisters, Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, Patrisse Cullors and a few other figures, “for giving words to a movement before it was one.”
“So I feel like this is obviously being awarded to me, but this is really for everyone…I just can’t help but think of all of the other people that I feel really have a part and deserve a part of this medal. Obviously my family, all of my friends, Sue, the entire extended family around the US women’s national team, from every single former player to the offices in Chicago to the team I have around me right now. None of this is possible throughout my entire career without everybody. So I’m so thankful to everyone.”
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The award presentation on July 7 coincides with the USWNT’s clash against Jamaica in Monterrey during the Concacaf W Championship, but head coach Vlatko Andonovski reassured Rapinoe there are no issues from the team’s perspective.
“Megan is of course very disappointed about missing a game, but I told her to go. She has to go. This is a once in a lifetime honor, she deserves it, and she will be representing herself, her team and her country at the White House,” said Andonovski in U.S. Soccer’s press release.
“I think I can speak for everyone at U.S. Soccer when I say we are very proud of Megan and the impact she’s made on our sport and our country as a person and a player.”
U.S. Soccer confirmed Rapinoe will return immediately following the ceremony, and be eligible for the final game in Group A between the USWNT and Mexico.
