Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon and Bob Liking Honored with Big Ten Medal of Honor
MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin proudly announced that standout athletes Phoebe Bacon from women’s swimming and diving and Bob Liking from men’s track and field and cross country have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Big Ten Medal of Honor. This significant recognition was presented during the annual Buckinghams event, celebrating student-athlete achievements.
Established in 1915, the Big Ten Medal of Honor celebrates one male and one female student-athlete from each member institution for their exceptional performance in both academics and athletics. Liking made history this past fall by becoming the first individual in Wisconsin history and only the fourth athlete in Big Ten history to clinch four individual titles in cross country. A St. Charles, Illinois native, Liking has contributed significantly to the distance program, being part of five Big Ten men’s cross country championships and helping the team achieve a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
An accomplished athlete, Liking is a four-time first-team All-American and currently holds school records in the indoor and outdoor 5000 meters. He also ranks second in the 10,000 meters and fifth in the indoor 3000 meters. Academically, he has garnered the USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete honors in 2024 and is a seven-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Bacon, hailing from Chevy Chase, Maryland, has similarly made waves in the swimming world. She has been named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year for two consecutive seasons and is a two-time NCAA Champion in the 200-yard backstroke. With 17 individual All-America accolades and nine Big Ten titles, she has showcased her prowess on both national and international stages, competing in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
Bacon’s academic excellence is equally notable, with multiple CSCAA Scholar-Athlete honors and a recent spot on the 2024-25 CSC Academic All-District First Team. Both athletes exemplify the remarkable combination of scholarly achievement and athletic prowess at the University of Wisconsin.
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