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The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, just one week into competition, have already seen historic performances from American athletes who continue to build an incredible Olympic legacy.
From Simone Biles and a veteran of Team USA to Katie Ledecky who continues to defy logic with incredible performances and gold medals, many American athletes have etched their names in the history books at the Paris Games.
While Biles and Ledecky certainly made history in Paris as among the greatest to ever compete in their respective sports, several athletes have collected more medals during their decorated Olympic careers.
Although it has been eight years since he last competed at the Olympic level, Michael Phelps remains the most decorated Olympian of all time in any sport, winning an incredible 28 medals during his career.
By winning gold 23 times, Phelps has won more gold medals than any other Olympian in terms of total medals, along with Larisa Latynina, who competed in gymnastics for the Soviet Union from 1956 to 1964, who won 18 total medals in her career.
In addition to 23 gold medals, Phelps has won three silver medals and two bronze medals in four Summer Olympic competitions, competing from 2004 to 2016.
Cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen, who won 15 medals, including eight gold, during a career spanning 2002 to 2018, rounds out the all-time top three and is the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time.
Bjørgen narrowly beat Soviet gymnast Nikolai Andrianov, who competed from 1972 to 1980 and also won 15 medals, including seven golds.
Although Phelps has remained untouchable in Olympic history, Ledecky’s sensational performance, which earned her the gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, put her in a tie for second among the most decorated Olympians in American history, tied with fellow American Jenny Thompson, the most decorated swimmer.
Thompson and Ledecky have both won 12 Olympic medals with identical totals: eight gold, three silver and one bronze. Thompson represented the United States from 1992 to 2004.
Ledecky is competing in her fourth Olympic Games, making her debut with Team USA at the 2012 London Games.
Three other American swimmers, Ryan Lochte, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, also have 12 Olympic medals in their careers, but none as rich in gold medals as Ledecky and Thompson.
Lochte won six gold medals as well as three silver and bronze medals, while Torres won four of each. Torres competed in five Olympic Games from 1984 to 2008, becoming the oldest swimmer in U.S. Olympic history at age 41 in 2008.
Coughlin competed in three Olympic Games from 2004 to 2012, winning three gold, four silver and five bronze medals during his distinguished career.
Below is a look at the top 10 most decorated Olympians in Summer and Winter Games history, along with their corresponding medal counts:
- Michael Phelps – USA – Swimming – 23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze: 28 in total
- Larisa Latynina – Soviet Union – Gymnastics – 9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze: 18 in total
- Marit Bjørgen – Norway – Cross-country skiing – 8 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze: 15 in total
- Nikolai Andrianov – Soviet Union – Gymnastics – 7 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze: 15 in total
- Ole Einar Bjørndalen – Norway – Biathlon, Cross-country skiing – 8 gold medals, 4 silver, 1 bronze: 13 in total
- Boris Shakhlin – Soviet Union – Gymnastics – 7 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze: 13 in total
- Ireen Wüst – Netherlands – Speed Skating – 6 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze: 13 in total
Edoardo Mangiarotti – Italy – Fencing – 6 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze: 13 in total - Ono Takashi – Japan – Gymnastics – 5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze: 13 in total
- Paavo Nurmi – Finland – Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing – 9 gold, 3 silver: 12 in total
- Birgit Fischer – Germany – Kayak – 8 gold medals, 4 silver medals: 12 in total
Bjørn Daehlie – Norway – Cross-country skiing – 8 gold medals, 4 silver medals: 12 in total
