What do Jesse Owens, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron, Arnold Palmer, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth and now Dan Gable have in common? They’re among the few athletes to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What’s more, is they’re not just the greatest athletes in the history, but they’re also superb human beings that have dedicated their lives to growing their respective sports.
On Wednesday afternoon Gable told The Des Moines Register that he received correspondence from the White House and that he was to be “The first athlete and coach from the sport of wrestling to receive this distinguished honor.