Soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe is known as much for her Olympic gold medal as her activism, so it comes as no surprise that she was selected by President Joe Biden to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
It’s also not surprising that Rapinoe arrived at the White House ready to make a statement—this time on behalf of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who just yesterday pleaded guilty to drug possession charges in Russia, where she has been detained for nearly five months.
For the occasion, Rapinoe wore a white suit whose lapel featured white embroidery of a single rose and Griner’s initials, “BG.”
“The most important part of today,” the three-time Olympian wrote on Instagram alongside a close-up of the stitching, adding a bouquet emoji. “BG We Love You.”
Earlier in the day, Rapinoe wrote that Griner was being used as a “political pawn” but acknowledged that the Biden administration was nonetheless “working hard to get her home.”
It’s believed that Russia is holding Griner with the intention of releasing her in exchange for Viktor Bout, a.k.a. the Merchant of Death, who is currently imprisoned in the U.S. for arms dealing, according to .
Rapinoe’s relationship to Griner is unclear; however, it’s possible the two may have met through Rapinoe’s wife, Sue Bird, a WNBA star who competes against Griner.
Simone Biles, a fellow U.S. Olympian, also received the Medal of Freedom on Thursday evening at the White House. The pair joins icons including Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Gabrielle Giffords, Cicely Tyson, and Tom Hanks, who have all received the award.
