The best athletes in the world converge to compete in the Olympic Games every four years. Affairs like swimming and gymnastics take center stage. These two sports are where folks will find a myriad of the most plentiful medal counts in the Olympics. Athletes who compete in swimming and gymnastics have the right set of circumstances to win multiple medals in each edition of the games.
Arguably the greatest swimmer in history is Michael Phelps. The kid from Baltimore was blessed with a body that swimmers fantasize over. He has long arms and massive feet, which act as built-in flippers. Phelps competed in four different Summer Olympics. He hung up his swimsuit after the 2016 games. He’d amassed an astounding 28 medals. 23 of those medals were gold. Folks believe they’ll likely never see another athlete as dominant as Phelps.
Gymnastics is another sport where athletes can win multiple medals. Larisa Latynina is a gymnast who was born in the Soviet Union. Latynina competed in three different editions of the games. She has the second most Summer Olympic medals in history with 18. Nine of her medals are gold. She was a gymnastics coach for the Soviet Union National Team when she officially retired from competing. For more sports content, click here to read about Americans’ favorite athletes of all time.
To compile this list of athletes with the most Summer Olympic medals ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted sports-related sources. These include NBCSports, Britannica, and ESPN.
Michael Phelps
- Sport: Swmming
- Medal Count: 28
Athletes like Michael Phelps don’t come around very often. The former swimmer was seemingly built in a lab. His wingspan allows him to reach far beyond his competitors. His feet act like flippers that people use while snorkeling. Phelps’ height is what swimmers only dream of. However, even with these genetic enhancements, Phelps still needed to work extremely hard. There are countless stories about what Phelps’ diet was like when training for upcoming events.
The training and hard worked proved to be worth it for Phelps. He’s the leader in the modern Summer Olympic Games for medals won. The 2008 games were pivotal for him. Phelps was transparent about his goal of winning eight gold medals. The games provided one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. It was the comeback the United States had in one of the swimming events. Phelps accomplished the goal. Throughout his career, Phelps won a total of 28 medals. What’s even more impressive is 23 of those were gold.
Larisa Latynina
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 18
Larisa Latynina proudly holds more Summer Olympic medals than any other woman. The former gymnast represented the Soviet Union. She had dreams of competing on the biggest stages in the world. Latynina made her official debut when she was just 21 years old. She won five medals in her first appearance, with three being gold. As time progressed, Latynina continued to stack her accomplishments until she hit her final total of 18 medals.
After retirement, Latynina was a coach for the Soviet Union gymnastics program. She held great pride for continuing to represent her country. Gymnastics is one of the best sports to bring home gobs of medals in. Like swimming, there are numerous different events and exercises gymnasts can do to win medals in. Latynina also won four gold medals during the World Championships while pregnant, which might be her most amazing accomplishment.
Nikolay Andrianov
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 15
Another Soviet gymnast to crack the list of most medals ever is Nikolay Andrianov. The former champion spent his career collecting medals until he reached his final count of 15. Of those 15, seven are gold for Andrianov. His first appearance in the games was in 1972. The games were hosted in Munich. Seven of Andrianov’s 15 medals were won during the 1976 games. They were in Montreal.
Andrianov thoughtfully retired from gymnastics after the 1980 event. He coached younger Russian gymnasts who aspired to be as decorated as he was. For a time, Andrianov went to Japan to coach their gymnastics team. He then made his way back to his home of Vladimir. Here, he oversaw the gymnastics center he went to. Andrianov died in 2011 after a battle with multiple system atrophy. His last months were spent unable to talk or move. He’s still considered one of the pinnacles of the Olympic Games.
Boris Shakhlin
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 13
The Soviet Union was once the poster for gymnasts. Boris Shakhlin was another member of the country who brought home an astounding 13 medals during his career. Shakhlin was mostly known for his pommel horse and horizontal bar. There were folks who never thought Shakhlin’s record of 13 individual medals would be broken by another man. Shakhlin’s most successful run in the Olympics came during the 1960 games. He took home seven medals.
Shakhlin was forced to stop competing when he was 35. That was because he suffered a heart attack. He was considered an icon in the Soviet Union. Shakhlin was given the prestigious Order of Lenin in 1960. That followed his legendary performance at the 1960 games. Shakhlin served as a professor at the University of Kyiv when he was done competing. Shaklin was enshrined into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2002. He died in 2008.
Edoardo Mangiarotti
- Sport: Fencing
- Medal Count: 13
One of the few athletes who didn’t participate in gymnastics or swimming on this list is Edoardo Mangiarotti. He was a fencer from Italy. Mangiarotti dominated the sport during his career. Mangiarotti won 13 medals over the course of five different games. He likely would have won more medals. The games weren’t showcased during 1940 and 1944. It was because of World War II. Mangiarotti’s best rendition of the games came in 1952.
He won two gold medals and four total medals. Mangiarotti set his sword down after the 1960 games as the greatest to ever do it. He then proceeded to be awarded a Platinum Wreath. The honor discussed his accomplishments at both the Olympic Games and World Championships. Mangiarotti died at the age of 93 in Milan.
Takashi Ono
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 13
Making it to one Olympic Games is an impressive accomplishment. Getting to four is astounding. It’s incredible to consider the wear and tear gymnasts put their bodies through. Landing on tough surfaces while training isn’t great for your knees. However, Takashi Ono took care of himself well enough to make it to four straight games. During his career, Ono won 13 medals. Five of those medals were gold.
The best Olympics Ono ever had were during the 1960 games in Rome. He won three gold medals, and six in total. Ono had two kids with another Japanese gymnast named Kiyoko Ono. He is still alive in Japan at 93. Ono was inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1998. That’s because of his accomplishments on the mat.
Brigit Fischer
- Sport: Kayaking
- Medal Count: 12
Another athlete on this list who didn’t compete as a swimmer or gymnast is Brigit Fischer. During her Olympic career, Fischer was known as a kayaker. Fischer won 12 total medals during her illustrious career. Of those 12, eight were gold. The other four were silver. Fischer holds the unique record of being the youngest and oldest champion in the Olympic Games.
Fischer participated in an astounding six different editions of the Olympics. She has the distinction of winning gold medals for both Germany and East Germany during her career. The amount of dedication she put herself through to participate in so many games is astounding. Fischer is also an accomplished photographer. She also watched her niece win gold during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
Sawao Kato
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 12
Sawao Kato is another gymnast who derived from Japan. He wasn’t the only member of his family to successfully carve out a career as a gymnast. His brother won multiple medals during his career. Sawao beat his brother in terms of how many medals he won, though. Kato stood on the medal stand 12 different times to receive a medal around his neck. He did so after participating in three different games.
Kato had 12 medals placed around his neck. Eight of those were gold. His best performance at the Olympics was unquestionably during the 1972 games. He won five medals. Kato won three gold medals that year. He’s an inductee of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Kato was a professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba. Kato and Nikolai Andrianov had great battles together during their Olympic careers.
Jenny Thompson
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 12
The next swimmer to take their place on this list is Jenny Thompson. She represented the United States during her professional career. Thompson’s best strokes were the butterfly and freestyle. She first showcased her talents at the Olympic level in 1992. Thompson was only 19 at that time. She took home three medals during these games. The 2000 Olympics were when Thompson truly impressed. She won a total of four medals.
Three of those were gold. Unlike most athletes, Thompson didn’t continue down a sports path when she retired from swimming. She continued her studies to work in medicine. Thompson’s now working as an anesthesiologist in Maine. She’s also been part of teams at hospitals in Boston and New York City. Thompson graduated from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Isabell Werth
- Sport: Equestrian
- Medal Count: 12
The third and final athlete who didn’t compete as a swimmer or gymnast on this list of Summer Olympians who have won the most medals is Isabell Werth. Throughout her legendary equestrian career, Werth has won 12 total medals. Seven of those medals are gold. The other five are silver. Her first time in the games came in 1992. That’s when they were held in Barcelona. Werth won one gold and one silver medal each year, respectively.
She’s competed in every Olympic Game since 1992, other than 2004. She works hard with her horses and takes extremely good care of herself. Riding horses isn’t as easy as it might seem. Your body is shaken and turned at various moments. Your knees hit hard whenever the horse comes back to the ground. Werth has needed to ensure she is constantly working to be on the same page as her horses.
Ryan Lochte
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 12
There was a time when folks thought Ryan Lochte could challenge Michael Phelps as the best swimmer ever. Lochte had a successful career. He didn’t quite measure up to the level Phelps achieved. Lochte won 12 medals during his Olympic career. Sports fanatics still feel like he left a lot on the table. Lochte came under scrutiny during the Rio games in 2016. He falsely reported the he was robbed.
It later was revealed that the men who Lochte claimed robbed him and three others were security guards. They worked at a gas station. The men went to the bathroom outside the station and vandalized posters. He then tested positive on a drug test. That ultimately ended his career representing the United States. Lochte’s best Olympic Games came during the 2012 edition in London. He won five medals. That included two gold medals.
Dara Torres
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 12
Dara Torres made American Olympic history in her day. She was the first American swimmer to represent the United States in five different Olympic Games. Throughout her career, Torres won 12 medals. She won four of each kind. Torres was best known for dominating in the butterfly and freestyle strokes. The best Olympics for Torres were in 2000. She won a total of five medals. That included two gold medals. She called it quits after the 2008 games in Beijing.
Torres later became known for her work on various television programs. She’s been featured on ESPN and NBC at different points in her career. Torres made another kind of history. She was the first swimmer to model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Torres was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. She has also been a proponent of CBD. Torres claims it helps both athletes and everyday people.
Alexei Nemov
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Medal Count: 12
Most gymnasts are known for being short and stout. Alexei Nemov stands at 5’8. He’s considered one of the taller people to pursue gymnastics. He clearly did something right. Nemov won a total of 12 medals during a span of two different Olympics. Nemov represented Russia during his career. It spanned between the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games. Nemov won two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals in 1996 and 2000.
Nemov didn’t win any medals during his 2004 performance. Injuries took their toll on his body after a while. There’s no telling how much higher on the list Nemov would be if he stayed healthy for his entire career. Nemov officially retired after the 2004 games. He moved back to his hometown of Tolyatti.
Natalie Coughlin
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 12
Natalie Coughlin is one of the most decorated female swimmers in Olympic history. She won 12 medals during her amazing career. Coughlin is known for her ability to do every stroke well. Her best stroke is the backstroke, where she won two of her three gold medals during her career. The 2004 Olympics in Athens were when Coughlin had her best showing. She won five medals that year, including two golds.
Coughlin isn’t solely an accomplished swimmer. In her free time, she developed an admiration for cooking. Coughlin dedicated more time to the craft when she retired. She went on “Today” to disclose her talents. Coughlin did so by creating a Chinese dish. It was in preparation for the 2008 games. She’s also appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” after that.
Mark Spitz
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 11
Before Michael Phelps, American swimmers looked up to Mark Spitz. He was the gold standard when it came to success in one Olympic appearance. Throughout his career, Spitz won a total of 11 medals. While this is quite the accomplishment itself, it’s even more remarkable to consider Spitz won seven gold medals in the 1972 games in Munich. The record stood for more than 30 years until Phelps set out to beat the record himself.
Spitz was proud of Phelps when he broke it. He knows how challenging it is to prepare for one Olympic event, let alone eight of them. After retiring from swimming, Spitz found himself endorsing several products. He became one of the first athletes to use his Olympic success and turn it into endorsements.
Matthew Biondi
- Sport: Swimming
- Medal Count: 11
The man who almost reached Spitz’s record before Michael Phelps was Matthew Biondi. He was a swimmer from California who wanted the challenge to see how many medals he could get. In 1988, Biondi set out to tie Spitz’s record of seven gold medals. He came up short, winning five gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. That’s not too bad still. Biondi finished his swimming career with 11 total medals.
Eight of those 11 were gold. Once his swimming career concluded, Biondi found himself as a teacher and swim coach in Hawaii. After he and his wife divorced, Biondi moved back to California where he still teaches and coaches swimming to high schoolers. For more sports content, click here to test your American football knowledge.