Top 10 Most Successful Athletes In Olympic History | All-Time Ranking

July 5, 2021 By Sourav


Top 10 Most Successful Athletes In Olympic History | All-Time Ranking

Thousands of athletes from all over the world come and participate in the global sporting competitions of the Olympic Games. Whether it is the summer games or the winter games, these competitions always attract a huge number of spectators. This list of Most Successful Athletes in Olympic will tell you about leading stars in the field.

 

Most Successful Athletes In Olympic History | All-Time Ranking

All eyes are glued on the athletes as they take part in a wide variety of sports. These athletes show no less focus, talent, and diligence than the stars of any of the popular sports. Let us take a look at the 10 Most Successful Athletes in Olympic History.

 

10. Jenny Thompson

Jenny-Thompson
Jenny-Thompson

 

The world still notes retired professional female swimmer Jenny Thompson as the tenth most decorated Olympian of all time.

She participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the United States team throughout her professional swimming career. Besides, she has achieved a total of 12 medals in her active Olympic career between 1992 and 2004.

Thompson now also holds the tenth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Jenny Thompson won a total of 8 gold medals. Besides, she won 3 silver medals and a bronze medal in swimming events of the Olympic Games.

 

9. Sawao Kato

Sawao-Kato
Sawao-Kato

 

Born on 11th October 1946, former professional male Gymnast Sawao Kato is the ninth most decorated Olympian of all time. He participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the Japanese team throughout his professional gymnastic career.

Moreover, he achieved a total of 12 medals in his active Olympic career between 1968 and 1976. Kato now holds the ninth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history.

Sawao Kato won a total of 8 gold medals in Olympic. Besides, he has also achieved 3 silver medals and a bronze medal in Gymnastic events of the Olympic Games.

 

8. Birgit Fischer

Birgit-Fischer
Birgit-Fischer

 

Retired professional female kayaker Birgit Fischer was born on 25th February 1962, in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. She holds her spot as the eighth-most decorated Olympian of all time.

Fischer participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the German team throughout her professional Canoeing career.

She achieved a total of 12 medals in her active Olympic career between 1980 and 2004. Fischer now holds the eighth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Birgit Fischer won a total of 8 gold medals and 4 silver medals in Canoeing events of the Olympic Games.

 

7. Bjørn Dæhlie

Bjørn-Dæhlie

Former Professional Cross-country skier Bjørn Dæhlie was born on 19th June 1967, in Elverum, Norway, and is the seventh most decorated Olympian of all time.

He participated in the Winter Olympic Games as a member of the Norway team throughout his professional skiing career. He achieved a total of 12 medals in his active Olympic career between 1992 and 1998.

Bjørn Dæhlie now holds the seventh place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Bjørn Dæhlie won a total of 8 Olympic gold medals. Besides, he has also achieved 4 silver medals in Cross-country skiing events of the Olympic Games.

 

6. Ole Einar Bjørndalen

Professional Biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen was born on 27th January 1974, in Drammen, Buskerud, Norway, and is the sixth most decorated Olympian of all time.

He participated in the Winter Olympic Games as a member of the Norway team throughout his professional athletic career. He achieved a total of 13 medals in his active Olympic career between 1998 and 2014.

Bjørndale now also holds the sixth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Ole Einar Bjørndalen won a total of 8 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and a bronze medal in Biathlon events of the Olympic Games.

 

5. Carl Lewis

Former professional athlete Carl Lewis was born on 1st July 1961, in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the fifth most decorated Olympian of all time.

He participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the United States team throughout his professional athletic career. He achieved a total of 10 medals in his active Olympic career between 1984 and 1996.

Lewis is now also inducted in the fifth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Carl Lewis won a total of 9 gold medals and a silver medal in Athletic events of the Olympic Games.

 

4. Mark Spitz

Mark-Spitz
Mark-Spitz

Retired legendary professional swimmer Mark Spitz was born on 10th February 1950, in Modesto, California, and is the fourth most decorated Olympian of all time.

He participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the United States team throughout his professional swimming career. Spitz achieved a total of 11 medals in his active Olympic career between 1968 and 1972.

He now also holds the fourth place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Mark Spitz won a total of 9 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and a bronze medal in swimming events of the Olympic Games.

 

3. Paavo Nurmi

Paavo-Nurmi
Paavo-Nurmi

Former professional athlete Paavo Nurmi was born in 1897, in Helsinki, Finland, and is the third most decorated Olympian of all time. He participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the Finland team throughout his professional athletic career.

He achieved a total of 12 medals in his active Olympic career between 1920 and 1928. Besides, Nurmi also holds the third place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history.

Paavo Nurmi won a total of 9 gold medals and 3 silver medals in Athletic events of the Olympic Games.

 

2. Larisa Latynina

Former professional female Gymnast Larisa Latynina was born on 27th December 1934, in Kherson, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, and is the second most decorated Olympian of all time.

Besides, she participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the Soviet Union team throughout her professional gymnastics career. She achieved a total of 18 medals in her active Olympic career between 1956 and 1964.

Latynina also holds the second place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Larisa Latynina won a total of 9 gold medals. Moreover, she has also won 5 silver medals and 4 bronze medals in Gymnastic events of the Olympic Games.

 

1. Michael Phelps

Legendary professional swimmer Michael Phelps was born on 30th June 1985, in Towson, Maryland, and is the most decorated Olympian of all time.

He participated in the Summer Olympic Games as a member of the United States team throughout his professional athletic career. Besides, he achieved a total of 22 medals in his active Olympic career between 2004 and 2012.

Phelps is now also inducted in the top place in our list of most successful athletes in Olympic history. Michael Phelps won a total of 18 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals in swimming events of the Olympic Games.

 

Most Successful Athletes in Olympic - All-Time Infographics

 

Final Words

It takes a lot of hard work, skill, training, years of hard work, and a lot more to stand out among the many athletes who participate in the Olympics and also win even one medal. Yet, many of them become lost names, as most countries and people pay much more attention to sports like soccer, cricket, etc.

Besides the truth is, these athletes deserve as much love and adulation from the people, and the authorities because they too represent their countries and make the nations proud. Do you know more about the Most Successful Athletes in Olympic, then let us know in the comments section below.

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