# The most decorated Olympians in history

The athletes with the most Olympic medals across the Summer and Winter Games, according to Wikipedia's list updated after the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Golds, silvers and bronzes for each.

- 15 votes · 29 items
- Mar 8, 2026 · Gianella H.
- https://even.best/en/l/520/the-most-decorated-olympians-in-history

## Top 20

1. **Nikolai Andrianov** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Soviet Union, gymnastics (1972–1980). 15 medals: 7 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze.
2. **Dara Torres** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — United States, swimming (1984–2008). 12 medals: 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze.
3. **Larisa Latynina** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Soviet Union, gymnastics (1956–1964). 18 medals: 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. She held the record for most medals for 48 years, until Phelps.
4. **Marit Bjørgen** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Norway, cross-country skiing (2002–2018). 15 medals: 8 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze. The most decorated Winter Olympian.
5. **Isabell Werth** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Germany, equestrian (1992–2024). 14 medals: 8 gold, 6 silver and 0 bronze.
6. **Ole Einar Bjørndalen** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Norway, biathlon (1998–2014). 14 medals: 8 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze.
7. **Emma McKeon** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Australia, swimming (2016–2024). 14 medals: 6 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze.
8. **Boris Shakhlin** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Soviet Union, gymnastics (1956–1964). 13 medals: 7 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze.
9. **Jenny Thompson** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — United States, swimming (1992–2004). 12 medals: 8 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
10. **Sawao Katō** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Japan, gymnastics (1968–1976). 12 medals: 8 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
11. **Alexei Nemov** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Russia, gymnastics (1996–2000). 12 medals: 4 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze.
12. **Michael Phelps** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (2004–2016). 28 medals: 23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. Won 8 golds at Beijing 2008, a record for a single Games.
13. **Katie Ledecky** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (2012–2024). 14 medals: 9 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze.
14. **Arianna Fontana** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Italy, short-track speed skating (2006–2026). 14 medals: 3 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze.
15. **Johannes Høsflot Klæbo** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Norway, cross-country skiing (2018–2026). 13 medals: 11 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. A record 11 Winter Olympic golds.
16. **Edoardo Mangiarotti** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Italy, fencing (1936–1960). 13 medals: 6 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze.
17. **Ireen Wüst** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Netherlands, speed skating (2006–2022). 13 medals: 6 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze.
18. **Takashi Ono** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Japan, gymnastics (1952–1964). 13 medals: 5 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze.
19. **Paavo Nurmi** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Finland, athletics (1920–1928). 12 medals: 9 gold, 3 silver and 0 bronze.
20. **Bjørn Dæhlie** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Norway, cross-country skiing (1992–1998). 12 medals: 8 gold, 4 silver and 0 bronze.
21. **Ryan Lochte** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (2004–2016). 12 medals: 6 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze.
22. **Natalie Coughlin** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (2004–2012). 12 medals: 3 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze.
23. **Mark Spitz** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (1968–1972). 11 medals: 9 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. Seven golds with seven world records at Munich 1972.
24. **Matt Biondi** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, swimming (1984–1992). 11 medals: 8 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
25. **Věra Čáslavská** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Czechoslovakia, gymnastics (1960–1968). 11 medals: 7 gold, 4 silver and 0 bronze.
26. **Allyson Felix** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, athletics (2004–2020). 11 medals: 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
27. **Simone Biles** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — United States, gymnastics (2016–2024). 11 medals: 7 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.
28. **Birgit Fischer** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — East Germany and Germany, canoeing (1980–2004). 12 medals: 8 gold, 4 silver and 0 bronze.
29. **Viktor Chukarin** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — Soviet Union, gymnastics (1952–1956). 11 medals: 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.