From Michael Phelps To Katie Ledecky: Top 5 Athletes With The Most Olympic Gold Medals. Over 10,000 athletes across the world are competing for the top three positions and medals – gold, silver, and bronze, at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024. They are participating in 32 sports and 329 events in the international sporting event that runs through August 11.
In this article, we will look at the Top Five Athletes That Have Won The Most Olympic Gold Medals:
Michael Phelps – 23 gold medals
Country: USA
Event: Swimming
Year: 2004 -2016
Michael Phelps began swimming at the age of 7. At the age of 11 years, he trained under the legendary Bob Bowman and competed at his first Olympics in Athens. Phelps is the world record holder in the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley. He is the most decorated Olympian of all time. Phelps retired from competitive swimming after the Rio Olympics in 2016.
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Larisa Latynina – 18 gold medals
Country: Former Soviet Union
Event: Gymnastics
Year: 1956 – 1964
Larisa Latynina first competed in the Olympics at 21 years of age at the 1956 Melbourne Games. She won gold in an all-round event – showing her skills and talent in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Latynina also claimed gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
She won 14 individual Olympic medals and four team medals between 1956 and 1964. No other athlete was able to break her record of 18 gold medals for 48 years, shattered by US’s Michael Phelps. Latynina helped the Soviet Union dominate in gymnastics.
Marit Bjorgen – 8 gold medals (Norway)
Event: Cross Country Skiing (Winter Olympics)
Year: 2002 – 2018
Marit Bjorgen has her name etched in the history of Cross-Country skiing with the first rank. She has 114 individual victories. The Norwegian skier also has records and titles with 29 victories in Cross-Country World Cup history.
Moreover, Bjorgen is a five-time Olympian. She has a total of 10 Olympic medals, making it in the record books as the first woman to hold the most Winter Olympic medals. Bjorgen retired from the sport in April 2022.
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Usain Bolt – 8 gold medals (Jamaica)
Event: Track
Year: 2004 – 2016
Usain Bolt is one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He made his mark by winning the Olympic 100m and 200m at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Bolt is also an 11x World Champion and is the most successful male athlete in the World Championships. He is called ‘Lightning Bolt’ given his speed and resilience on the track.
Moreover, Bolt was recognized with the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award thrice and with the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year four times. The Jamaican sprinting superstar retired in 2017.
Katie Ledecky – 7 gold medals (USA)
Event: Swimming
Year: 2012 – to date
Katie Ledecky is the pool queen, with records and titles in her kitty. She debuted at the 2012 London Olympic Games as a 15-year-old and won gold in the 800m freestyle. Ledecky, with 7 gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, is the first female swimmer to have the most gold medals in history.
She also has 16 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. Ledecky is still going strong and most is likely to topple more records and gain more gold at the Paris Olympics 2024.
