It's much like soldiers in battle; few receive medals, primarily because few are placed in circumstances where high performance levels commensurate with medals are required. Most just slog through it, but if faced with the scenario would handle it just fine...same with pilots.
The United Airlines crash at Iowa City several years ago, however, did demand an extraordinary effort by the crew to even make it to an airport, as they had virtually no working flight controls. They maneuvered the aircraft by varying thrust levels on left & right engines....a concept that engineers had never envisaged. Capt. Al Haynes is a REAL hero...but again, he was also trying to save his own life, too.