Olympic and Paralympic athletes spend years training, but they are not doing it alone. Most have a support system by their side every step of the way that includes coaches, training partners, service providers, family and friends. The Order of Ikkos gives podium athletes the opportunity to recognize coaches who have supported their journey to the Games.

The Order of Ikkos was created by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2008. It is presented by Team USA medal-winning athletes to a coach, mentor or other individual who has been instrumental in their success. The Order of Ikkos is named after Ikkos of Tarentum, the first recorded Olympic coach in ancient Greece. His coaching led multiple Tarentine athletes to gold medals in the pentathlon, and his legacy is honored through this award. 

Each medalist is allowed to present only one medal to a selected recipient. Oftentimes, the medallion is given to an influential coach, but that is not always the case. Snowboarder Chloe Kim gave the Order of Ikkos to longtime teammate Kelly Clark for the mentorship and encouragement Clark had provided throughout the Games.

The medal is a symbol of coaching excellence and remains the same from games to games, while the lanyard is tailored to represent the look and feel of the Games where it is presented. Medals are often presented in a ceremony hosted at Team USA House, a designated location put aside exclusively for Team USA athletes and guests at the Games. 

Here is a full list of Team USA Order of Ikkos recipients.