Young woman distributed medals (6)
I believe the answer is:
damsel
'young woman' is the definition.
(damsel is a kind of young woman)
'distributed medals' is the wordplay.
'distributed' is an anagram indicator.
'medals' anagrammed gives 'DAMSEL'.
(Other definitions for damsel that I've seen before include "Girl - type of fly" , "An old girl, often in distress" , "Maiden (poetic)" , "Girl (literary)" , "Someone in distress?" .)