American football star Megan Rapinoe receives a presidential medal of freedom

Sports report

Megan Anna Rapinoe is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League, as well as the United States national team. President Joe Biden on Thursday awarded the American soccer star Megan Rapinoe the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Rapinoe was among 17 recipients, along with gymnast and fellow Olympian Simone Biles, the Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington and Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who died in 2018. Rapinoe is the first soccer player to receive the award and one of just six female athletes or coaches. "Beyond the World Cup title to Olympic medals, Megan is a champion for essential American truth that everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect," Biden said at the award ceremony at the White House. "She helped lead the change for perhaps the most important victory for anyone on our soccer team or any soccer team: equal pay for women."

Rapinoe has been a member of the U.S. Women's National Team since 2006 and has helped the team win two Olympic medals and two World Cup championships. Off the field, she has made a name for herself for her contribution to LGBTQ equality and equality in women's sports.

In 2016, Rapinoe and four other U.S. Women’s National Team players filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the U.S. Soccer Federation, alleging gender discrimination. Then in 2019, 28 members of the team, including Rapinoe, filed a similar lawsuit, citing years of gender discrimination in pay, medical treatment and overall workload.

The group of five players reached a settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation in February, receiving $24 million and securing an agreement from the federation to pay men and women equally in all exhibition games, or friendlies, and tournaments. “For us, this is just a huge win in ensuring that we not only right the wrongs of the past, but set the next generation up for something we only dreamed of,” Rapinoe told NBC’s “TODAY” show after the settlement was reached.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by the Truman administration in 1945 to commemorate civilian efforts during World War II. But in 1963, President John F. Kennedy revived the tradition, honoring leading figures in American culture and innovation. Winning starts here! Join our sports platform and dominate the game. Register on ILOT now. click here https://ln.run/R0OIF to register now.

ahmedwale188

Congratulations to the old Football star