This is why Simone Biles was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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00:00Simone Biles is adding another medal to her already extensive collection.
00:04The 25-year-old Olympic gymnast just became the youngest person to ever receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
00:10Biles received the honor for her contributions to American gymnastics and her advocacy work for foster care,
00:16athletes' mental health, and sexual assault survivors.
00:19At the ceremony, she was recognized as a former foster child who became a once-in-a-generation athlete.
00:24Over the course of her career, she has earned 32 Olympic and World Championship medals.
00:29During the 2021 Olympics, Biles led the movement for athletes to prioritize their mental health.
00:35She was one of the first high-profile figures to vocalize the stress professional sports puts
00:39on athletes. Last year, she joined three of her Olympic teammates to testify before Congress
00:44regarding the abuse they suffered by former U.S. gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
00:49President Biden noted that Biles was able to, quote,
00:52turn personal pain into a greater purpose.
00:54She is now one of six women sports figures to ever receive the award.