Connor Hellebuyck: Hart Trophy winner. Three-time Vezina Trophy winner. Olympic gold medalist. Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient?
President Donald Trump announced during the State of the Union address Feb. 25, 2026 that he plans to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Jets goaltender. The honor comes after his 41-save performance helped the United States win its first men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years.
Trump announces that Connor Hellebuyck will receive “the highest civilian honor in our country — the Presidential Medal of Freedom” pic.twitter.com/TOt2ejpka5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 25, 2026
Team USA received a standing ovation from Congress members two days after winning gold in Milan.
Democrats and Republicans rarely agree on much these days. But they seemed united in wanting to honor Hellebuyck and his teammates.
What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to anyone who has made “an especially meritorious contribution” to national security, world peace, or cultural endeavors. President John F. Kennedy established the criteria in 1963.
It’s considered the United States’ highest civilian honor.
The award typically comes with a White House ceremony. Early recipients were mostly political figures or military leaders. But the “cultural endeavors” category has opened doors for athletes, coaches, actors and musicians in recent decades.
Trump and Barack Obama have been particularly generous in honoring sports figures.
How many athletes won Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom has been awarded to 44 sports figures, including Connor Hellebuyck. That includes 36 athletes.
The award didn’t start out popular with sports figures. Only seven received it from Kennedy’s presidency through Bill Clinton’s final year in 2001.
George W. Bush more than doubled that number in eight years. Every president since has continued awarding athletes the nation’s highest civilian honor.
What athletes have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
Of the medal’s 674 recipients, 44 — less than seven percent — are tied to sports. Here are the athletes, coaches and sports figures who received the honor:
| Recipient | Sport | President |
| Jesse Owens | Track and field | Gerald Ford |
| Joe DiMaggio | Baseball | Gerald Ford |
| Bear Bryant | Football (coach) | Ronald Reagan |
| Jackie Robinson | Baseball | Ronald Reagan |
| Earl Blaik | Football (coach) | Ronald Reagan |
| Ted Williams | Baseball | George H.W. Bush |
| Arthur Ashe | Tennis | Bill Clinton |
| Hank Aaron | Baseball | George W. Bush |
| Roberto Clemente | Baseball | George W. Bush |
| John Wooden | Basketball (coach) | George W. Bush |
| Arnold Palmer | Golf | George W. Bush |
| Muhammad Ali | Boxing | George W. Bush |
| Frank Robinson | Baseball | George W. Bush |
| Jack Nicklaus | Golf | George W. Bush |
| Buck O’Neil | Baseball | George W. Bush |
| Billie Jean King | Tennis | Barack Obama |
| Stan Musial | Baseball | Barack Obama |
| Bill Russell | Basketball | Barack Obama |
| Pat Summitt | Basketball (coach) | Barack Obama |
| Ernie Banks | Baseball | Barack Obama |
| Dean Smith | Basketball (coach) | Barack Obama |
| Charlie Sifford | Golf | Barack Obama |
| Yogi Berra | Baseball | Barack Obama |
| Willie Mays | Baseball | Barack Obama |
| Vin Scully | Baseball (broadcaster) | Barack Obama |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Basketball | Barack Obama |
| Michael Jordan | Basketball | Barack Obama |
| Roger Staubach | Football | Donald Trump |
| Bob Cousy | Basketball | Donald Trump |
| Tiger Woods | Golf | Donald Trump |
| Dan Gable | Wrestling | Donald Trump |
| Lou Holtz | Football (coach) | Donald Trump |
| Babe Didrikson Zaharias | Golf | Donald Trump |
| Gary Player | Golf | Donald Trump |
| Annika Sorenstam | Golf | Donald Trump |
| Roger Penske | Racing (owner) | Donald Trump |
| Mariano Rivera | Baseball | Donald Trump |
| Babe Ruth | Baseball | Donald Trump |
| Simone Biles | Gymnastics | Joe Biden |
| Megan Rapinoe | Soccer | Joe Biden |
| Katie Ledecky | Swimming | Joe Biden |
| Magic Johnson | Basketball | Joe Biden |
| Lionel Messi | Soccer | Joe Biden |
| Connor Hellebuyck | Hockey | Donald Trump |
Hellebuyck will be the first hockey player to receive the medal.
Presidential Medal of Freedom benefits
The Presidential Medal of Freedom doesn’t come with additional benefits beyond the White House ceremony and joining an exclusive list of fewer than 1,000 Americans.
Hellebuyck won’t be able to roam the White House grounds whenever he wants. He won’t get a special title like British celebrities honored by royals.
But he’ll be the first of his kind among hockey players to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
