• Denzel Washington has been nominated as winner of the nation’s highest civilian distinction.
• The medal honours “exemplary achievements to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States.
• The White House stated that people being honoured had “overcome enormous challenges.

Actor Denzel Washington, the late computer genius Steve Jobs, and gymnastics sensation Simone Biles have all been nominated as winners of the nation’s highest civilian distinction, the White House announced on Friday.

17 Americans, including three deceased recipients, were chosen by President Joe Biden to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The medal honours “exemplary achievements to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, to the maintenance of international peace, or to other noteworthy societal, public, or private undertakings,” according to the White House.

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One of the honorees is Megan Rapinoe, a gold-medal-winning Olympic soccer player, two-time Women’s World Cup champion, and outspoken supporter of equality, racial justice, and LGBTQ rights.

The White House stated that people being honoured had “overcome enormous challenges… and acted with bravery to promote change in their communities — and across the world — while blazing trails for future generations.” The ceremony was scheduled for July 7.

John McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate, longtime senator from Arizona, and Purple Heart medal from the Vietnam War, is one posthumous recipient this year.

Former recipients of the presidential medal include Robert De Niro, Diana Ross, and basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

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