The Top 10 Best Olympians celebrates the most iconic and dominant athletes in Olympic history, whose extraordinary achievements, records, and inspirational journeys have defined the Games. From multiple gold medalists to trailblazing pioneers, these legends transcended sport through excellence, perseverance, and global impact.
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, winning 28 medals, including 23 golds—the most in Olympic history. Competing in four Games from 2004 to 2016, he dominated swimming with unmatched versatility and mental toughness. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Usain Bolt is the fastest man in Olympic history, known for his electrifying speed, charisma, and signature "Lightning Bolt" pose. He won eight Olympic gold medals, sweeping the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at three consecutive Games (2008, 2012, 2016). Bolt set ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history and a four-time Olympic gold medalist (2016 Rio). Known for her gravity-defying skills, power, and consistency, she has multiple difficult moves named after her. At Rio, she won gold in team, ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Carl Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals and one silver across four Olympic Games (1984–1996), matching Paavo Nurmi’s record. Dominating long jump and sprinting, he won gold in the long jump four times consecutively (1984–1996), a feat matched only in throwing events. ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Larisa Latynina is the second-most decorated Olympian with 18 total medals, including nine golds, setting the standard before Michael Phelps. Competing for the Soviet Union in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Games, she dominated women’s gymnastics with elegance and precision. ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Paavo Nurmi, the "Flying Finn," won nine Olympic gold medals and three silvers in middleand long-distance running between 1920 and 1928. Dominating the 1500m, 5000m, and cross-country events, he set 22 world records and introduced scientific training methods. ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Nadia Comăneci made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics at age 14 by scoring the first perfect 10 in gymnastics, earning seven of them and winning three golds. Representing Romania, she redefined precision, grace, and difficulty in the sport. Her flawless routines on ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Ian Thorpe, the "Thorpedo," is Australia’s most successful Olympian, winning five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal across three Games (1996–2004). Dominating freestyle events in the 2000s, he won three golds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming a ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Bob Beamon delivered one of the greatest single performances in Olympic history at the 1968 Mexico City Games, shattering the long jump world record by an astonishing 55 cm (21.75 inches) with a leap of 8.90 meters. The mark stood for 23 years and remains the Olympic ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Alexander Dityatin is the first athlete to win eight medals in a single Olympic Games, achieving this feat at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Representing the Soviet Union, he won three golds, four silvers, and one bronze across all men’s gymnastics events, showcasing ... Show More
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