On Thursday, Donald Trump was presented with a notable accolade, courtesy of a celebrated figure from the US Olympic sphere.
The occasion took place during a White House ceremony dedicated to Women’s History Month, attracting high-profile attendees such as Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Kaillie Humphries, a distinguished US bobsledder with six Olympic medals to her name, stepped up to the podium to present the President with her Order of Ikkos medal. This award is typically reserved for exceptional coaches and mentors.
“We receive just one, but I wish to acknowledge the influence and encouragement you’ve provided to women’s sports across the Olympic community,” she remarked.
Humphries commended the President for “advocating to ensure that biological women remain in women’s sports, safeguarding the integrity of the competition and ensuring fairness.”
US bobsledder Kaillie Humphries gave the President her Order of Ikkos medal
‘We only get one, but I want to recognize the support and impact you’ve had on women’s sports throughout the Olympic movement,’ Humphries said
She added, “Moreover, your policies are enhancing access to IVF, enabling families like mine to continue growing,” highlighting another area of support.
Before handing the medal over, Humphries added: ‘I believe this actually makes you the first president in history to ever be awarded an Order of Ikkos as well.’
Trump appeared delighted to receive the hardware, flashing a big smile and declaring, ‘I knew I liked her!’ before posing for pictures with the bobsled star.
Shortly after winning two bronze medals at Milan Cortina, and becoming the most decorated women’s bobsledder in Olympic history, Humphries spoke out about previous backlash she has faced for voicing her support of the Trump administration.
‘I’ve had some people not agree with my opinions and make it very known,’ Humphries told Fox News Digital Thursday.
‘A lot of name-calling. You get called every name and word under the sun humanly possible and, at the end of the day, politics can be very emotional for people, and I understand that. And everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and what they represent.
‘That’s their opinion, and I don’t have to like it or agree with it. I wish it was different, but that’s how it works.’
The warm exchange stands in stark contrast to the conflict that erupted between the President and other members of Team USA during last month’s Winter Games.
During the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Trump sparked a firestorm when he labeled freestyle skier Hunter Hess a ‘loser’ for expressing ‘mixed emotions’ about representing the U.S. flag.
Humphries poses with her bronze medal in Women’s Monobob Bobsleigh last month
Trump smiles after Olympic star Humphries presented him with the Order of Ikkos medal
Trump recently clashed with Winter Olympians, such as Hunter Hess, at the 2026 Games
‘U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics.
‘If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
Hess had sparked the initial fury by telling reporters that wearing the flag did not mean he represented ‘everything that’s going on in the U.S.’.
‘There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of,’ Hess said. ‘Wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.’
He further explained: ‘I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. I just think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it.’
The President also previously clashed with figure skater Amber Glenn and skier Chris Lillis, who criticized the administration’s heightened immigration enforcement.
