Top 10 athletes in the world with the most Olympic medals

The 33rd edition of the Summer Olympics is scheduled to start on July 26 in Paris, the capital of France. A total of 184 countries will participate in the Paris Olympics 2024, this time 329 gold medals will be at stake in this game. 117 players from India are going to participate in this Olympics. In such a situation, let's take a look at the players who have won the most Olympic medals in the history of the Games.

Also Read: Most Olympic Games without any medal: Monaco, Myanmar and Bangladesh in top 30

Most Olympic Medals | Top 10 List

1.  Michael Phelps | 28 Medals

Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps, who represented America at the Olympics, is the only athlete in the history of this sport to win more than 20 medals. He has 28 medals to his name, which include 23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. He participated in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. Phelps also holds the record for winning the most gold medals in a single edition, having won 8 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2. Larisa Latynina | 18 Medals

Gymnast Larisa Latynina represented the Soviet Union at 3 Summer Olympic editions (1956, 1960 and 1964). She had won a total of 18 medals, out of which 9 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze. This former veteran player won 6-6 medals in each of his three Olympic Games. However, her best year in terms of gold medals was 1956 (4). Latynina made her Olympic debut at the age of just 21.

3. Marit Bjørgen | 15 Medals

Norwegian cross-country skiing idol Marit Bjørgen became the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, with a collection of 15 medals to her name. Eight of them are golds, equalling the record held by her compatriots Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Bjørn Daehlie.

Also Read: All-time Olympic medal tally: USA top with 2,629 medals; India placed at 58

4. Nikolay Andrianov | 15 Medals

Former gymnast Nikolay Andrianov, who represented the Soviet Union, won 15 medals and is fourth on the most Olympic medals list. He participated in 3 Summer Olympic editions (1972, 1976 and 1980). His 7 medals came at the 1976 Games, 4 of which were gold. Before Phelps, Andrianov held the record for winning the most medals in a single edition of the Olympics. In 2008, Phelps broke his record.

5. Ole Einar Bjørndalen | 13 Medals

Former biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen's 13 Olympic medals are the most for any male Winter Olympian. The Norwegian-born Bjørndalen competed in six Olympic Games from 1994 to 2014. Bjørndalen's 13 Olympic medals include 8 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze. He also helped Norway win the first Olympic mixed relay in biathlon.

6. Boris Shakhlin | 13 Medals

Competing in three Olympic Summer Games from 1956 to 1964, gymnast Boris Shakhlin's performances in vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar earned him a total of 13 Olympic medals (7 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze). Shakhlin’s best performance came in the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he won four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Also Read: 10 athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics 2024

7. Ireen Wüst | 13 Medals

The Dutch former speed skater, Ireen Wüst the most decorated speed skater in the history of the Games. She has 13 Olympic medals to her name, including 6 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze. In addition, her medal total is the most of any Dutch Olympian.

7. Edoardo Mangiarotti | 13 Medals

Italy’s Edoardo Mangiarotti was an immovable force when it came to fencing. Mangiarotti has won 13 medals at the Olympic Games – six gold, five silver, and two bronze from 1936 to 1956.

9. Ono Takashi | 13 Medals

Japan’s Ono Takashi competed at the 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won 13 medals, including five gold, four silver and four bronze medals. In 1952 at the Olympic Games in Helsinki, Takashi participated in his first Olympic competition. He was also the flag bearer of Japan at the 1960 Olympics.

Also Read: How many sports will there be at the Paris Olympics 2024? Which are the new ones?

10. Paavo Nurmi | 12 Medals

Paavo Nurmi, also known as Flying Finn, won 12 medals (9 gold, and 3 silver) in his 12 events in the Summer Olympic Games. At his peak, Nurmi was undefeated for 121 races at distances from 800 m upwards. Throughout his 14-year career, he remained unbeaten in cross country events and the 10,000 metres.