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Contemporary off an Olympic gold medal-winning efficiency, Workforce USA males’s hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck will obtain the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Trump introduced throughout his State of the Union handle.
“The members of this hockey squad will probably be very comfortable to listen to that, primarily based on their vote, and my vote, and on this case my vote was extra necessary, that I’ll quickly be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor … the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Mr. Trump stated Tuesday evening, saying he had requested the staff to vote on whether or not Hellebuyck ought to obtain the distinction in the course of the staff’s go to to the Oval Workplace earlier within the day.
Mr. Trump made the announcement after inviting members of Workforce USA into the Home chamber with their gold medals, which earned them an prolonged standing ovation and chants of “U-S-A!” from either side of the aisle.
“That is the primary time I’ve ever seen them rise up,” Mr. Trump stated, referring to Democratic members of Congress.
“I’ve by no means seen a goalie play in addition to Connor Hellebuyck,” Mr. Trump stated, incomes the goalie one other spherical of applause, throughout which he kissed his gold medal and pumped his fist.
Kenny Holston-Pool / Getty Photos / Kenny Holston/The New York Instances 
Hellebuyck stopped 41 of Workforce Canada’s 42 photographs in the course of the recreation for gold. With the rating tied 1-1 within the third interval, he made an important save by stretching his stick out behind him and getting simply sufficient of it in entrance of a point-blank shot from Devon Toews, deflecting the puck away from the aim.
“I requested him, ‘The one shot, the one the place you place the stick within the again, and it hit the stick and bounced off, do you observe that or was that slightly fortunate?'” Mr. Trump stated of the outstanding cease. “He refused to reply that query.”
Workforce USA would go on to win 2-1 in sudden-death three-on-three additional time, when Hellebuyck once more made an important save to maintain the sport alive for the U.S. The win got here on the 46-year anniversary of the final gold medal males’s ice hockey win for Workforce USA, after they took down the closely favored Soviet Union within the “Miracle on Ice” on the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
Mr. Trump stated each member of the staff “quickly put up their fingers” when he requested them to vote on whether or not Hellebuyck ought to be awarded the medal. “What a particular job you probably did. What particular champions you might be. Thanks very a lot,” he added, addressing the remainder of the staff.
The U.S. ladies’s hockey staff, which additionally gained gold by defeating Canada, declined Mr. Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union, citing scheduling conflicts. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump stated in the course of the State of the Union that they might additionally “quickly be coming to the White Home.”
What different athletes have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The record consists of dozens of superstars comparable to Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth. Listed below are the athletes and coaches who’ve been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:
- Connor Hellebuyck, hockey
- Simone Biles, gymnastics
- Magic Johnson, basketball
- Lionel Messi, soccer
- Jim Thorpe (posthumously), a number of sports activities
- Katie Ledecky, swimming
- Megan Rapinoe, soccer
- Babe Didrikson (posthumously), golf, observe and subject
- Tiger Woods, golf
- Jerry West, basketball
- Dan Gable, wrestling
- Jim Ryun, athletics/observe and subject
- Alan Web page, soccer
- Roger Staubach, soccer
- Babe Ruth (posthumously), baseball
- Michael Jordan, basketball
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball
- Willie Mays, baseball
- Yogi Berra (posthumously), baseball
- Charlie Sifford, golf
- Ernie Banks, basketball
- Stan Musial, baseball
- Pat Summitt, basketball
- Dean Smith, basketball
- Invoice Russell, basketball
- Billie Jean King, tennis
- Buck O’Neil (posthumously), baseball
- Frank Robinson, baseball
- Muhammad Ali, boxing
- Jack Nicklaus, golf
- Arnold Palmer, golf
- Roberto Clemente (posthumously), baseball
- John Wood, basketball
- Hank Aaron, baseball
- Arthur Ashe (posthumously), tennis
- Richard Petty, inventory automotive racing
- Ted Williams, baseball
- Earl Blaik, soccer
- Pierre Baruzy, boxing (awarded the medal for his function within the French Resistance throughout World Warfare II)
- Jackie Robinson (posthumously), baseball
- Paul Bryant (posthumously), soccer
- Joe DiMaggio, baseball
- Jesse Owens, observe and subject
- Robert J.H. Kiphuth, swimming
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