During a White House Women’s History Month event, bobsled star Kaillie Humphries presented former President Donald Trump with a unique honor, sparking widespread reaction.
Humphries, a 40-year-old Olympian, is one of winter sports’ most accomplished athletes, with multiple medals and historic achievements in bobsledding.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she added bronze medals in both monobob and two-woman events, describing them as especially meaningful while balancing motherhood.
During the ceremony, Humphries awarded Trump the Order of Ikkos, a medal athletes typically give to influential coaches, making the gesture politically unusual.
She explained the award symbolized gratitude for policies she believes support women’s sports and families, including increased IVF access.
Trump responded with humor, joking he “knew he liked her,” while Humphries noted he may be the first president to receive such recognition.
The moment divided opinion online, highlighting how athletes increasingly use their platforms to make personal political statements beyond sports.
