Connor Hellebuyck’s Olympic heroics may have earned him more than just a gold medal. During the Feb. 25, 2026 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump announced plans to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Jets goaltender following his 41-save performance that helped Team USA capture its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years.
If confirmed, Hellebuyck would join an exclusive group of athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Here is everything you need to know about the award and the full list of sports figures who have earned it.
What Is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made “especially meritorious contributions” to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural and significant public or private endeavors.
Established in its modern form by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the honor is typically presented during a White House ceremony. While early recipients were largely political or military figures, the award has increasingly been given to cultural icons, entertainers, and athletes.
In recent decades, athletes who received the award have become a significant portion of recipients, particularly under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
How Many Athletes Have Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
Of the 674 total recipients in U.S. history, 44 sports figures have earned the distinction. That includes 36 athletes and eight coaches or sports executives.
Athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom account for less than seven percent of all honorees, highlighting how selective the recognition remains.
Only seven sports figures were awarded the medal between its modern inception and the end of Bill Clinton’s presidency in 2001. Since then, honoring athletes has become far more common.
With Hellebuyck expected to join the list, hockey will finally have its first representative among athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Athletes Who Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Under Donald Trump
Several prominent athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom were honored during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Those include:
- Roger Staubach (Football)
- Bob Cousy (Basketball)
- Tiger Woods (Golf)
- Dan Gable (Wrestling)
- Lou Holtz (Football coach)
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias (Golf)
- Gary Player (Golf)
- Annika Sorenstam (Golf)
- Roger Penske (Racing owner)
- Mariano Rivera (Baseball)
- Babe Ruth (Baseball)
- Connor Hellebuyck (Hockey – pending ceremony)
Trump has shown a consistent willingness to recognize athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, particularly those with championship legacies or significant cultural impact.
Full List of Athletes Who Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Below is the complete list of athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom across all administrations:
- Jesse Owens (Track and Field)
- Joe DiMaggio (Baseball)
- Bear Bryant (Football coach)
- Jackie Robinson (Baseball)
- Earl Blaik (Football coach)
- Ted Williams (Baseball)
- Arthur Ashe (Tennis)
- Hank Aaron (Baseball)
- Roberto Clemente (Baseball)
- John Wooden (Basketball coach)
- Arnold Palmer (Golf)
- Muhammad Ali (Boxing)
- Frank Robinson (Baseball)
- Jack Nicklaus (Golf)
- Buck O’Neil (Baseball)
- 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 (Broadcaster)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Basketball)
- Michael Jordan (Basketball)
- Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
- Megan Rapinoe (Soccer)
- Katie Ledecky (Swimming)
- Magic Johnson (Basketball)
- Lionel Messi (Soccer)
The dominance of baseball legends among athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom reflects the sport’s historic cultural significance in the United States.
Do Athletes Who Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Get Any Benefits?
Despite its prestige, the Presidential Medal of Freedom does not come with financial compensation or special privileges.
Recipients attend a White House ceremony and join an exclusive list of honorees, but the award carries symbolic significance rather than material benefit.
For athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the recognition represents a career-defining honor, an acknowledgment not just of athletic excellence, but of cultural impact.
Why Connor Hellebuyck’s Honor Is Historic
If formally presented, Hellebuyck will become the first hockey player among athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
His Olympic performance (41 saves in a 2–1 overtime win against Canada) ended a 46-year drought for U.S. men’s hockey and created one of the defining American sports moments of the decade.
By joining the list of athletes who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Hellebuyck would cement his place in both hockey and national history.
