most gold medals in olympics 3600 2.9/9.7K 68/50-100
most olympic medals 2.9/11.9 61/50-100
won the highest number of medals in entire olympics
who has the most gold medals
most olympic gold medals 1.6/8.5
Matt Biondi – 8 gold (swimming, USA)
Matt Biondi is a former American swimmer renowned for his incredible Olympic success, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals, including 8 golds, 2 silvers, and 1 bronze across three Games (1984, 1988, and 1992). At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he dominated by winning five gold medals, setting four world records, including in the 50m freestyle and three relay events. Known as “The California Condor,” Biondi was one of the fastest sprinters in swimming history, setting multiple individual world records in the 50m and 100m freestyle. He narrowly missed winning seven golds in Seoul, finishing second in the 100m butterfly by just 0.01 seconds. Biondi’s Olympic legacy is marked by his performances in relays and individual events, earning him a place in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame.
Jenny Thompson – 8 gold (swimming, USA)
Jenny Thompson is one of the most decorated American female swimmers in Olympic history, winning 12 Olympic medals, including 8 golds, 3 silvers, and 1 bronze. She competed in four Olympic Games from 1992 to 2004, excelling mostly in relay events where she won all her gold medals. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Thompson won two relay golds and a silver in the 100m freestyle. Despite challenges qualifying for individual events later, she anchored multiple gold medal-winning relay teams, setting world and Olympic records. Known for her strong anchor leg performances, she also won several individual world championship titles. After retiring, she pursued a medical career as a pediatric anesthesiologist. Jenny’s legacy includes numerous national titles and world records, and she is inducted into both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Sawao Kato – 8 gold (gymnastics, JPN)
Sawao Kato is a legendary Japanese gymnast renowned for winning 8 Olympic gold medals and a total of 12 medals between 1968 and 1976, making him the most successful Japanese Olympian by gold medals. Kato made a spectacular Olympic debut in 1968 in Mexico City, winning gold in the individual all-around, floor exercise, and team events. He continued his dominance in 1972 Munich Olympics, capturing gold in the all-around and parallel bars, plus silvers on the horizontal bar and pommel horse. At the 1976 Montreal Games, he narrowly missed a third consecutive all-around gold, settling for silver, but helped Japan win the team gold again and retained his parallel bars title. Kato is celebrated for his discipline, precision, and versatility. After retiring, he became a respected university professor and gymnastics official. His achievements earned him induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2001.
Birgit Fischer (Germany, Kayaking) – 8 gold medals
Birgit Fischer is a legendary German kayaker who won 8 Olympic gold medals across six Olympic Games from 1980 to 2004, making her one of the most decorated Olympians in kayaking and canoeing history. Fischer competed for both East Germany and unified Germany, becoming the youngest Olympic kayaking champion at 18 and the oldest at 42. Her remarkable career includes gold medals in single, double, and four-person kayak events, demonstrating versatility and longevity. She earned 12 total Olympic medals (8 gold, 4 silver), setting records for the most Olympic medals in her sport and being second only to gymnast Larisa Latynina among women Olympians. Fischer’s dominance extended to World Championships where she won 38 medals, cementing her status as one of the greatest kayakers ever.
Ole Einar Bjørndalen (Norway, Biathlon) – 8 gold medals
Ole Einar Bjørndalen is a legendary Norwegian biathlete widely regarded as the “King of Biathlon,” having won 8 Olympic gold medals along with a total of 14 World Championship golds, making him the most successful biathlete in history. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Bjørndalen amassed 95 World Cup victories and dominated biathlon with remarkable consistency, winning six Overall World Cup titles. Known for his exceptional shooting accuracy and skiing speed, he earned 44 Norwegian Championship golds and remains a revered figure in winter sports. Bjørndalen competed in six Winter Olympics from 1994 to 2014, earning 14 Olympic medals in total, and is celebrated for his longevity, skill, and pioneering influence on biathlon worldwide.
Marit Bjørgen (Norway, Cross-country Skiing) – 8 gold medals
Marit Bjørgen is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier and the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, with 15 Olympic medals including 8 golds. She dominated both sprint and distance events, winning 114 individual World Cup victories and 18 World Championship titles. Bjørgen made her Olympic debut in 2002, steadily rising to fame by topping the medal table at the 2010 Vancouver Games with three golds and two other medals. She continued her success through the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, cementing her legacy with multiple gold medals in skiathlon, distance races, and relays. Known for her versatility and longevity, Bjørgen retired in 2018 but remains a celebrated figure in Nordic skiing history.
Carl Lewis (USA, Track and Field) – 9 gold medals
Carl Lewis is an iconic American track and field athlete who won 9 Olympic gold medals spanning from 1984 to 1996, excelling in sprinting and long jump events. His standout performance came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he matched Jesse Owens’ historic feat by winning gold in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay. Lewis continued his dominance by defending his 100m and long jump titles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and winning more golds in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games. Known for longevity and versatility, he set world records and was named “World Athlete of the Century” by IAAF and “Sportsman of the Century” by the IOC. Lewis retired in 1997 and remains a legendary figure in athletics.
Mark Spitz (USA, Swimming) – 9 gold medals
Mark Spitz is a legendary American swimmer who won 9 Olympic gold medals across the 1968 and 1972 Games, most famously securing 7 golds in Munich 1972—a record for a single Olympics that stood for 36 years. Spitz set world records in each of his seven events in 1972, competing in freestyle and butterfly sprints and relays. His Olympic career also includes two gold medals from Mexico City 1968 and individual silver and bronze medals in butterfly and freestyle. Spitz’s dominance in swimming earned him 33 world records and 31 Amateur Athletic Union titles. He is celebrated as one of the greatest swimmers of all time and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
Caeleb Dressel (USA, Swimming) – 9 gold medals
Caeleb Dressel is an American swimmer with 9 Olympic gold medals, making him one of the most decorated U.S. swimmers ever. He debuted at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning two gold medals in relay events. Dressel’s breakout came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where he won five gold medals, including individual titles in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly, setting world and Olympic records. He continued his success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding two more relay golds, tying him for second-most Olympic golds among male swimmers behind Michael Phelps. Known for his explosive speed and versatility, Dressel is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprint swimmers in history.
Paavo Nurmi (Finland, Track and Field) – 9 gold medals
Paavo Nurmi was a Finnish middle- and long-distance runner known as the “Flying Finn,” who won 9 Olympic gold medals and 3 silvers at the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games, dominating events from 1500 meters to 10,000 meters and cross country. He set 22 official world records and revolutionized training with his use of pacing and interval running. Nurmi remains the most decorated Olympic track and field athlete in history with 12 medals total. He retired undefeated in cross country and the 10,000 meters and was celebrated as a national hero in Finland. His legacy includes pioneering athletic strategy and holding records for gold medals in distance running, with his achievements commemorated by statues and the Paavo Nurmi Games.
Katie Ledecky (USA, Swimming) – 9 gold medals
Katie Ledecky is an American swimmer and one of the greatest female athletes in Olympic history, having won 9 gold medals and 14 total Olympic medals across four Games from 2012 to 2024. She is renowned for her dominance in the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, holding world records in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle. Ledecky is the most decorated American female Olympian and is tied with Larisa Latynina for the most Olympic gold medals won by a woman. She has also achieved 21 World Championship gold medals, the most for any female swimmer. Known for her exceptional endurance and speed, Ledecky continues to break records and inspire as a dominant force in swimming.
Larisa Latynina (USSR, Gymnastics) – 9 gold medals
Larisa Latynina is a Soviet gymnast who won 9 Olympic gold medals and a total of 18 Olympic medals between 1956 and 1964, making her one of the most decorated female Olympians in history. She dominated in multiple events including all-around, floor exercises, vault, and team competitions across three Olympic Games. Latynina’s 18 medals were a record that stood for 48 years until Michael Phelps surpassed it in 2012, while her 9 golds remain the most by a female gymnast. She also collected numerous World and European Championship titles and competed with remarkable dedication, even while pregnant. After retiring, she became a successful gymnastics coach, contributing to the Soviet Union’s continued dominance in the sport.
Michael Phelps (USA, Swimming) – 23 gold medals
Michael Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a record 23 Olympic gold medals out of 28 total medals won across five Olympic Games (2000-2016). He holds the records for most Olympic golds, Olympic golds in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16). Phelps made his Olympic debut at 15 in Sydney 2000 and rose to dominance by winning 6 golds and 2 bronzes in Athens 2004. His historic peak was the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won 8 gold medals in world or Olympic record times, breaking Mark Spitz’s 1972 record. Phelps also earned multiple medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016 before retiring, becoming a legendary figure in swimming and sport.