Most Olympic gold medals won by an athlete: Who has the most gold medals overall in Summer Games history?

Vinnie Iyer

Most Olympic gold medals won by an athlete: Who has the most gold medals overall in Summer Games history? image

What defines the best Summer Olympic athletes of all-time? Although individual medals count is a good metric, going for only the gold is a better one. 

Silver and bronze medals are special consolation prizes with the significance of representing a nation well on the biggest international athletics stage, but a gold medal means being the world's best and a true champion.

Here's looking at what athletes have won the most gold medals all-time (six or more), starting with the United States' most popular and dominant swimming legend.

Who's won the most gold medals in Olympics history?

No. 1 — 23 golds

Michael Phelps 2008
(Getty Images)

Michael Phelps, United States, swimming, 2000-2016

Phelps has 14 more than any other athlete, including two more Americans, fellow swimmer Mark Spitz and track superstar Carl Lewis.

No. 2 (tie) — 9 golds

 

Carl Lewis
(Getty Images)

Carl Lewis, United States, track and field, 1984-1996

Lewis was once the fastest man alive, winning the 100-meter dash twice on top of taking home four Olympic long jump titles. His career spanned from Los Angeles to Atlanta, bookended by home soil.

Paavo Nurmi, Finland, track and field, 1920-1928

"The Flying Finn" was the world's most dominant long-distance runner a century ago.

Mark Spitz, United States, swimming, 1968-1972

Spitz needed only two games to prove he was the world's best water athlete at that time, setting a high bar for Phelps to clear.

Larisa Latynina, Soviet Union, gymnastics, 1956-1964

Back in the U.S.S.R days, Latynina was a super standout in a troika of Summer Games.

No. 6 (tie) — 8 golds

Getty Images

Usain Bolt, Jamaica, track and field, 2008-2016

Bolt, with his appropriate lightning-fast last name, pulled off an unprecedented fleet feat by winning both the 100 meters and 200 meters in three consecutive Olympics. He still leaves little doubt he's the best-ever pure speedster.

Birgit Fischer, East Germany/Germany, canoeing, 1980-2004

Fisher had an incredibly long Olympic career, paddling her way to big things.

Sawao Kato, Japan, gymnastics, 1968-1976

Nearly 50 years later, Kato is still the most decorated male gymnast of all time.

Jenny Thompson, United States, swimming, 1992-2004

Thompson had a long prolific career at short distances, winning plenty with freestyle and butterfly events.

Matt Biondi, United States, swimming, 1984-1992

Biondi was the first true American challenger to Spitz's mark but fell just short with his individual and relay victories.

Ray Ewry, United States, track and field, 1900-1908

Ewry was the best standing jumper at the turn of the century, dominating the long, triple, and high jumps over three Olympics.

No. 12 (tie) — 7 golds

Katie Ledecky
(Getty Images)

Katie Ledecky, United States, swimming, 2012-active

Ledecky is set to become the most decorated freestyle female swimmer of all time. She has won individual golds at 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, and 1500 meters and is looking for a few more in Paris.

Allyson Felix, United States, track and field, 2004-2020

Felix won the 200 meters gold in London in 2012 and racked up plenty of hardware as a core member of multiple relay teams.

Caeleb Dressel, United States, swimming, 2016-active

Dressel is also trying to get luckier than seven as a University of Florida Olympic product in Paris. He won individual golds in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, and 100-meter butterfly in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Jason Kenny, cycling, Great Britain, 2008-2020

Kenny was an amazing sprint cyclist both in relays and individual events. His wife Laura Kenny has five golds as a sprint and endurance specialist.

Isabell Werth, Germany, equestrian, 1992-active

Werth has been the face of team and individual dressage going all the way back to Barcelona and has a chance to move up in Paris as she turns 55 in July.

Nikolai Andrianov, Soviet Union, gymnastics, 1972-1980

Andrianov won varied individual golds in Munich, Montreal, and Moscow, including floor exercise, the vault, and rings.

Viktor Chukarin, Soviet Union, gymnastics, 1952-1956

The Ukrainian legend won back-to-back men's all-arounds and also took golds in pommel horse, the vault, and parallel bars.

Boris Shakhlin, Soviet Union, gymnastics, 1956-1964

The Russian was a worthy successor and contemporary to Chukarin, standing out as the country's best male gymnast until Andrianov's arrival.

Vera Caslavska, Czechoslovakia, gymnastics, 1960-1968

Caslavska won back-to-back all-arounds in Tokyo and Mexico City and also added golds in the vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise.

Aladar Gerevich, Hungary, fencing, 1932-1960

Gerevich was part of the Hungarian dominance in a sport that has great Olympics longevity. The saber specialist is considered to be the GOAT Olympic swordsman.

Svetlana Romashina, Russia/ROC, synchronized swimming, 2008-2020

Romashina won team events in Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo and also won three consecutive Olympic duet titles.

No. 23 (tie) — 6 golds

Ryan Lochte

Ryan Lochte, United States, swimming, 2004-2016

Amy Van Dyken, United States, swimming, 1996-2000

Kristin Otto, East Germany, swimming, 1988

Vitaly Scherbo, Unified Team/Belarus, gymnastics, 1992-1996

Reiner Klimke, United Team of Germany/West Germany, equestrian, 1964-1968

Hubert Van Innis, Belgium, archery, 1900-1920

Akinora Nakayama, Japan, gymnastics, 1968-1972

Edoardo Mangiarotti, Italy, fencing, 1936-1960

Valentina Vezzali, Italy, fencing, 1996-2012

Nedo Nadi, Italy, fencing, 1912-1920

Gert Fredriksson, Sweden, canoeing, 1948-1960

Chris Hoy, Great Britain, cycling, 2000-2012

Danuta Kozak, Hungary, canoeing, 2008-2020

Pal Kovacs, Hungary, fencing, 1936-1960

Rudolf Karpati, Hungary, fencing, 1948-1960

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.