Katie Ledecky, the most decorated women’s swimmer in history, and Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, will be among 19 people to be honored Friday by President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Ledecky is a seven-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, taking home at least one gold in each of the past three Olympics. And she will compete at the Paris Olympics this summer.
Her 16 individual gold medals at the world championships are the most by any swimmer, man or woman.
Thorpe, who died in 1953, is among a list of recipients that pays special homage to firsts in their field. Thorpe became the first Native American to earn an Olympic gold medal in 1912 when he won the decathlon and pentathlon.
Others being honored for breakthrough achievements are “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actress Michelle Yeoh, who was the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space.
The 10 men and nine women hail from the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, science, and religion. Thorpe’s honor is among three medals that will be awarded posthumously.
“These nineteen…
