Photo: Jonathan Owens/Instagram
Simone Bileshas added a new medal to her collection.
“Words can’t explain how proud I am of you,” hewroteon Instagram. “This has been such a surreal experience to watch you receive your Presidential Medal of Freedom, and be the youngest to ever receive one at that!
“You’re one of the strongest people I know and are so deserving, I’m so blessed to be able to experience this with you. You motivate me more everyday to be the best version of myself. Such a inspiration, I love you so much babe,” Owens, 26, added.
The Houston Texans safety complemented his wife-to-be’s beaded black ensemble with a dapper powder-blue suit, as the couple posed outside the White House after the ceremony.
Theyannounced their engagementin February after Owens popped the question in a gazebo in Houston. The pair previouslymade their relationship Instagram officialin August 2020.
Biles, one of PEOPLE’s 2021People of the Year, also celebrated Thursday’s ceremony on Instagram, sharing a photo of PresidentJoe Bidenplacing the medal around her neck.
The White House announced Biles as one of the 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients last week, along withDenzel Washington, Gabrielle Giffords and Megan Rapinoe, as well as posthumous awards forSteve JobsandJohn McCain.
The annual award, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States, is given to those “who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to arelease.
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In addition to her combined 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, Biles was recognized for being a “prominent advocate forathletes' mental health and safety,children in the foster care system, andvictims of sexual assault.”
source: people.com
