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Every Olympic Games brings together the best athletes from around the world. At the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, about 2,900 athletes are competing across 116 events. Only a small group will leave with medals. History shows that some countries and athletes win far more than others.
At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Norway topped the medal table with 37 medals, including 16 gold. ROC finished second, followed by Germany, Canada, and the United States. At the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, the United States led again with 126 medals and 40 gold.
When all Olympic Games are combined, the United States has the highest total with 3,103 medals, according to the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. The Soviet Union follows with 1,204, and Germany stands third with 1,091. Norway leads the Winter Olympics medal count with 404, ahead of the United States and Germany.
Individual athletes also shape Olympic history. A few competitors return again and again and keep winning. Their medal totals are records that may never be matched. Below is a look at the top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals
Jenny Thompson (USA) celebrates winning the women’s 100m freestyle during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games at Bernat Picornell Pools. Credit: George Long-USA TODAY NETWORK
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 12
Jenny Thompson built her career in the pool over four Olympic Games. Her success came mostly in relay events. Consistency defined her career. Each Olympics added more medals to her collection. Team events helped her reach a total of 12.
MORE: Ranking all Winter Olympic sports by how scary they really are
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 12
Kato Sawao became one of Japan’s most decorated gymnasts. His wins came during a strong era for Japanese gymnastics. Gold medals formed the core of his success. Precision and balance were his strengths.
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Bjørn Daehlie ruled cross-country skiing in the 1990s. Norway’s winter dominance owes much to him. His medal record includes no bronze. Most of his races ended with gold or silver.
Sport: Kayaking
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Birgit Fischer competed in six Olympic Games. Her career stretched across decades. Kayaking was her stage. Strong technique and long service made her one of Germany’s greatest Olympians.
READ MORE: Six athletes who won medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics
Sport: Track and field
Gold: 9 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Paavo Nurmi became known as the “Flying Finn.” Middle and long-distance races were his events. His gold medal count remains one of the highest in athletics. Training discipline defined his legacy.
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 5 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 13
Ono Takashi brought balance to his medal tally. Gold, silver, and bronze all appear in his record. Gymnastics success came through team and individual events. Japan’s strong tradition helped shape his career.
Sport: Fencing
Gold: 6 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Edoardo Mangiarotti is Italy’s most decorated Olympian. Fencing was his field. Both team and individual bouts added to his count. His career spanned five Olympic Games.
Ireen Wust (NED) in the women’s speed skating 1000m during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at National Speed Skating Oval. Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Sport: Speed skating
Gold: 6 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Ireen Wüst dominated long-track speed skating. Medals came in different distances. She became one of the most successful Dutch Winter Olympians. Longevity kept her near the top.
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 7 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Boris Shakhlin shined during the Cold War era. Soviet gymnastics relied on strength and control. His medal spread shows success across many events. Multiple podium finishes defined his career.
Sport: Biathlon, cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 14
Ole Einar Bjørndalen became known as the “King of Biathlon.” Shooting and skiing combined in his sport. His medals came over several Olympics. Norway’s winter tradition grew stronger through him.
Katie Ledecky swims in the women’s 400 meter freestyle at the Toyota National Championships swimming meet at Indiana University Natatorium. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 9 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 14
Katie Ledecky dominates long-distance swimming. World records often followed her races. Gold medals form most of her total. Her career continues to shape modern Olympic swimming.
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 7 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 3 | Total: 15
Nikolay Andrianov won medals in three Olympic Games. Soviet gymnastics peaked during his era. Balance and power marked his routines. His total remains one of the highest in the sport.
MORE: 6 unbelievable Olympics records that still haven’t been broken
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 3 | Total: 15
Marit Bjørgen is the most successful Winter Olympian ever. Her medals came from different skiing distances. Norway’s winter dominance rests strongly on her record. Endurance shaped her success.
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 9 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 18
Larisa Latynina held the Olympic medal record for decades. Gymnastics events brought her repeated podium finishes. Her total stayed unmatched until the 21st century. Soviet sports history still reflects her achievements.
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps looks on prior to the USA match against Australia in the SheBelieves Cup womenÕs soccer tournament at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 23 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 28
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He won 23 gold medals across four Olympic Games. One Olympics alone gave him eight gold medals. Swimming history changed because of his performances.
Olympic medals tell stories of skill, time, and effort. These 15 athletes stand above the rest in total medals. Their records reflect long careers and repeated success. Future stars may rise, but these names remain the benchmark.
OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 17
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The post Top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals appeared first on The Big Lead.
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At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Norway topped the medal table with 37 medals, including 16 gold. ROC finished second, followed by Germany, Canada, and the United States. At the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, the United States led again with 126 medals and 40 gold.
When all Olympic Games are combined, the United States has the highest total with 3,103 medals, according to the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. The Soviet Union follows with 1,204, and Germany stands third with 1,091. Norway leads the Winter Olympics medal count with 404, ahead of the United States and Germany.
Individual athletes also shape Olympic history. A few competitors return again and again and keep winning. Their medal totals are records that may never be matched. Below is a look at the top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals
15. Jenny Thompson (United States)
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Jenny Thompson (USA) celebrates winning the women’s 100m freestyle during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games at Bernat Picornell Pools. Credit: George Long-USA TODAY NETWORK
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 12
Jenny Thompson built her career in the pool over four Olympic Games. Her success came mostly in relay events. Consistency defined her career. Each Olympics added more medals to her collection. Team events helped her reach a total of 12.
MORE: Ranking all Winter Olympic sports by how scary they really are
14. Kato Sawao (Japan)
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 8 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 12
Kato Sawao became one of Japan’s most decorated gymnasts. His wins came during a strong era for Japanese gymnastics. Gold medals formed the core of his success. Precision and balance were his strengths.
13. Bjørn Daehlie (Norway)
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Bjørn Daehlie ruled cross-country skiing in the 1990s. Norway’s winter dominance owes much to him. His medal record includes no bronze. Most of his races ended with gold or silver.
12. Birgit Fischer (Germany)
Sport: Kayaking
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Birgit Fischer competed in six Olympic Games. Her career stretched across decades. Kayaking was her stage. Strong technique and long service made her one of Germany’s greatest Olympians.
READ MORE: Six athletes who won medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics
11. Paavo Nurmi (Finland)
Sport: Track and field
Gold: 9 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 0 | Total: 12
Paavo Nurmi became known as the “Flying Finn.” Middle and long-distance races were his events. His gold medal count remains one of the highest in athletics. Training discipline defined his legacy.
10. Ono Takashi (Japan)
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 5 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 13
Ono Takashi brought balance to his medal tally. Gold, silver, and bronze all appear in his record. Gymnastics success came through team and individual events. Japan’s strong tradition helped shape his career.
9. Edoardo Mangiarotti (Italy)
Sport: Fencing
Gold: 6 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Edoardo Mangiarotti is Italy’s most decorated Olympian. Fencing was his field. Both team and individual bouts added to his count. His career spanned five Olympic Games.
8. Ireen Wüst (Netherlands)
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Ireen Wust (NED) in the women’s speed skating 1000m during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at National Speed Skating Oval. Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Sport: Speed skating
Gold: 6 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Ireen Wüst dominated long-track speed skating. Medals came in different distances. She became one of the most successful Dutch Winter Olympians. Longevity kept her near the top.
7. Boris Shakhlin (Soviet Union)
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 7 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 13
Boris Shakhlin shined during the Cold War era. Soviet gymnastics relied on strength and control. His medal spread shows success across many events. Multiple podium finishes defined his career.
6. Ole Einar Bjørndalen (Norway)
Sport: Biathlon, cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 14
Ole Einar Bjørndalen became known as the “King of Biathlon.” Shooting and skiing combined in his sport. His medals came over several Olympics. Norway’s winter tradition grew stronger through him.
5. Katie Ledecky (United States)
You must be registered for see images attach
Katie Ledecky swims in the women’s 400 meter freestyle at the Toyota National Championships swimming meet at Indiana University Natatorium. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 9 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 1 | Total: 14
Katie Ledecky dominates long-distance swimming. World records often followed her races. Gold medals form most of her total. Her career continues to shape modern Olympic swimming.
4. Nikolay Andrianov (Soviet Union)
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 7 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 3 | Total: 15
Nikolay Andrianov won medals in three Olympic Games. Soviet gymnastics peaked during his era. Balance and power marked his routines. His total remains one of the highest in the sport.
MORE: 6 unbelievable Olympics records that still haven’t been broken
3. Marit Bjørgen (Norway)
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Gold: 8 | Silver: 4 | Bronze: 3 | Total: 15
Marit Bjørgen is the most successful Winter Olympian ever. Her medals came from different skiing distances. Norway’s winter dominance rests strongly on her record. Endurance shaped her success.
2. Larisa Latynina (Soviet Union)
Sport: Gymnastics
Gold: 9 | Silver: 5 | Bronze: 4 | Total: 18
Larisa Latynina held the Olympic medal record for decades. Gymnastics events brought her repeated podium finishes. Her total stayed unmatched until the 21st century. Soviet sports history still reflects her achievements.
1. Michael Phelps (United States)
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Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps looks on prior to the USA match against Australia in the SheBelieves Cup womenÕs soccer tournament at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sport: Swimming
Gold: 23 | Silver: 3 | Bronze: 2 | Total: 28
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He won 23 gold medals across four Olympic Games. One Olympics alone gave him eight gold medals. Swimming history changed because of his performances.
Conclusion
Olympic medals tell stories of skill, time, and effort. These 15 athletes stand above the rest in total medals. Their records reflect long careers and repeated success. Future stars may rise, but these names remain the benchmark.
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OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 17
NFL: Tyreek Hill makes hilarious first move after Dolphins release
CBB: 2026 college basketball rankings, updated AP Top 25 after Week 15
MLB: Tigers infielder from Taiwan apologizes to Koreans after trash talk goes viral
SPORTS MEDIA: College Hall of Famer, father of Chicago Bulls coach, dies
VIRAL: Chloe Kim ‘obsessed’ with $100k gift from NFL star Myles Garrett after Olympics
The post Top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...
