Full List of Athelets Who Awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom, Hellebuyck Honored as First Hockey Star

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States' highest civilian honor, awarded by the President for exceptional contributions to national interests, world peace, culture, or other significant public/private endeavors. While primarily given to figures in arts, science, civil rights, and public service, a select group of athletes, coaches, owners, and broadcasters have received it for their impact on sports and society.

As announced by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address on February 25, 2026, Connor Hellebuyck (hockey goaltender) will be the next recipient. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner (NHL's top goalie), was pivotal in Team USA's 2-1 overtime gold medal win over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics (Milan-Cortina), stopping 41 of 42 shots in the final. This makes him the first hockey player ever to receive the award. Trump praised his performance as unprecedented and noted unanimous team support for the honor during an Oval Office visit.

This brings the total to around 44 sports-related recipients (including athletes, coaches, owners, and broadcasters), with Hellebuyck as the 44th. The list below compiles confirmed recipients from historical records, grouped by the awarding president (chronological order where possible). Note: Some awards were posthumous (e.g., Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente).

Gerald Ford

Jesse Owens (Track & Field)

Joe DiMaggio (Baseball)

Ronald Reagan

Paul "Bear" Bryant (Football, coach)

Jackie Robinson (Baseball)

Earl Blaik (Football, coach)

George H. W. Bush

Ted Williams (Baseball)

Bill Clinton

Arthur Ashe (Tennis)

George W. Bush

Hank Aaron (Baseball)

Roberto Clemente (Baseball, posthumous)

John Wooden (Basketball, coach)

Arnold Palmer (Golf)

Muhammad Ali (Boxing)

Frank Robinson (Baseball)

Barack Obama

Billie Jean King (Tennis)

Stan Musial (Baseball)

Bill Russell (Basketball)

Pat Summitt (Basketball, coach)

Ernie Banks (Baseball)

Dean Smith (Basketball, coach)

Charlie Sifford (Golf)

Yogi Berra (Baseball)

Willie Mays (Baseball)

Vin Scully (Baseball Broadcaster)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Basketball)

Michael Jordan (Basketball)

Donald Trump (during his presidencies)

Roger Staubach (Football)

Bob Cousy (Basketball)

Tiger Woods (Golf)

Dan Gable (Wrestling)

Lou Holtz (Football, coach)

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (Golf)

Gary Player (Golf)

Annika Sörenstam (Golf)

Roger Penske (Auto Racing, owner)

Mariano Rivera (Baseball)

Babe Ruth (Baseball, posthumous)

Connor Hellebuyck (Hockey) — announced February 25, 2026 (ceremony forthcoming)

Joe Biden

Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Megan Rapinoe (Soccer)

Katie Ledecky (Swimming)

Magic Johnson (Basketball)

Lionel Messi (Soccer)

This list focuses on prominent sports figures and is drawn from White House archives, official announcements, and reliable sports/historical sources (e.g., ESPN, USA Today, Sporting News, Wikipedia compilations). Some earlier lists vary slightly in completeness or include additional non-athlete sports contributors (e.g., broadcasters or additional coaches), but the above covers the core athletes and key figures as referenced in recent reports following Hellebuyck's announcement.

Hellebuyck's award highlights exceptional athletic performance tied to national pride (Olympic gold), continuing the tradition of honoring trailblazers and legends. If you'd like details on any specific recipient or updates on the ceremony, let me know! 🏅

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