| Athlete |
Nation(s) |
Sport(s) |
Role(s) |
Era |
Notes |
| Arthur Ashe |
 USA |
|
Other |
1993 |
Awarded by President Bill Clinton in 1993. |
| Cassius Clay |
USA |
BOX |
Olympics |
1960 |
Awarded by President George W. Bush in 2005. |
| Pat Head |
USA |
BKB |
Olympics / Coach |
1976—1984 |
Awarded by President Barack Obama in 2012. |
| Michael Jordan |
USA |
BKB |
Olympics |
1984—1992 |
Awarded by President Barack Obama in 2016. |
| Jesse Owens |
USA |
ATH |
Olympics |
1936 |
Awarded by President Gerald Ford in 1976. |
| Bill Russell |
USA |
BKB |
Olympics |
1956 |
Awarded by President Barack Obama in 2011. |
| Jim Ryun |
USA |
ATH |
Olympics |
1964—1972 |
Awarded by President Donald Trump in 2020. |
| Dean Smith |
USA |
BKB |
Coach |
1976 |
Awarded by President Barack Obama in 2013. |
| Jerry West |
USA |
BKB |
Olympics |
1960 |
Awarded by President Donald Trump in 2019. |