Athletics
July 1, 2022
University of Portland alumnus Megan Rapinoe will be presented with the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by Joe Biden in a ceremony on July 7, the White House announced Friday.
"Our University of Portland community congratulates Megan on this richly-deserved honor," said UP President Robert D. Kelly, PhD. "An extraordinary athlete and advocate, Megan has done so much on and off the pitch to advance women's sport and promote equality. We are proud to call Megan a Pilot."
"To be presented the nation's highest civilian honor is such incredible recognition for the work Megan has done to drive change," said Portland women's soccer head coach and former U.S. Women's National Team Assistant Coach, Michelle French. "We are so proud of the way she continues to use her voice to advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice and LGBTQIA+ rights."
Rapinoe's storied soccer career began on the University of Portland campus when she helped the Pilots to an undefeated 2005 NCAA Championship run as a true freshman. She was a two-time All-American, the WCC Freshman of the Year and the 2008 WCC Player of the Year. Rapinoe concluded her collegiate career with 30 goals and 28 assists despite playing in just 60 matches due to injury. Twice in four years on The Bluff she had season-ending knee injuries but would still go on to have a remarkable professional and international career.
A member of the U.S. Women's National Team since 2006 Rapinoe has won two World Cup Gold Medals (2015, 2019) and an Olympic Gold Medal (2012). She also helped the USWNT to the Silver Medal at the 2011 World Cup and Bronze Medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Rapinoe has scored 62 international goals and added 72 assists in 189 total appearances with the senior team.
Her peak performance came in 2019 when she earned Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards at the FIFA Women's World Cup as the top scorer and player of the tournament. She also took home FIFA's 'The Best' honor for women's player of the year and the Ballon d'Or Award for top player in the world. Sports Illustrated named Rapinoe the 2019 Sportsperson of the Year.
Rapinoe's biggest impact goes beyond the pitch as a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice and LGBTQIA+ rights. Her push was instrumental in U.S. Soccer becoming the first federation to equalize pay for men's and women's national teams earlier this year.
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