Who won 6 Olympic gold medals. List of multiple Olympic champions. Pozdnyakov Stanislav, fencing

Here are the absolute champions in artistic gymnastics over the past 30 years.

Alexander Dityatin

Alexander Nikolaevich was born in Leningrad on August 7, 1957. He is a three-time Olympic champion, seven-time world champion, one of the best gymnasts of all time. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.

Seven-time world champion in 1979 and 1981. Two-time European champion in 1979. Multiple champion of the Spartakiads of the peoples of the USSR. The only gymnast in the world who has medals in all evaluated exercises at one Games: at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 he won 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. With this result, he entered the Guinness Book of Records. He played for Dynamo Leningrad.

But three years later, shortly after the Moscow Olympics, he received a ridiculous but serious injury - a dislocation ankle joint. Alexander continued to perform for some time and even won awards at major international competitions. In November 1981, Dityatin entered (already as captain) onto the platform of the next World Championship, which took place in Moscow, at the Olimpiysky sports complex. Alexander said: “I will do everything for the team to win.” And did. The Soviet team again became the best in the world, and Dityatin himself won 2 more gold medals - in exercises on the rings and on the uneven bars. After finishing his career as an athlete, he became a coach, working until 1995.

Koji Gushiken

Japanese gymnast, Olympic champion and world champion, born November 12, 1956 in Osaka, graduated from the University of Japan physical culture. In 1979 he won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships. In 1980, due to a boycott organized by Western countries, he was unable to take part in the Olympic Games in Moscow, but in 1981, at the World Championships held in Moscow, he won gold, silver and two bronze medals.

At the 1983 World Championships he won gold, silver and bronze medals. In 1984, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he won two gold, silver and two bronze medals. In 1985 he won a bronze medal at the World Championships; that same year he announced his retirement from his sports career.

Vladimir Artyomov

Vladimir Nikolaevich was born in Vladimir on December 7, 1964. He is a four-time Olympic champion and one of the best gymnasts of all time. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. He graduated from the Vladimir State Pedagogical Institute, where he later taught. He spoke for the local VDFSO trade union “Burevestnik”.

World champion in the team championship (1985, 1987 and 1989), in the uneven bars (1983, 1987 and 1989), silver medalist in the all-around (1985), in the team championship (1983), in floor exercise (1987 and 1989), in exercises on the horizontal bar (1989). Absolute champion of the USSR (1984). In 1990 he left for the USA, where he currently lives in Pennsylvania.

Vitaly Shcherbo

Vitaly was born in Minsk on January 13, 1972. He is a six-time Olympic champion in 1992 (the only non-swimmer in history to win 6 gold medals at one Games), one of the best gymnasts of all time (the only man to become world champion in all 8 disciplines - individual and team championships, as well as in all 6 shells). Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Belarus.

Scherbo finished his sports career in 1997 after a broken arm caused by a fall from a motorcycle. Vitaly currently lives in Las Vegas, where he opened his own gym, “Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics”

Li Xiaoshuang

His name literally means “the younger of the pair” - he is the younger twin brother of another Chinese gymnast, Li Dashuang. The brothers were born on November 1, 1973 in Xiantao, Hubei Province.

From the age of 6 he began to engage in gymnastics, in 1983 he joined the provincial team, in 1985 - in the national team, then due to an injury he returned to the provincial team, in 1988 he again joined the national team, then returned to the provincial team again, and in 1989 he became a member of the national team for the third time.

At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, he won a gold medal in the floor exercise and a bronze medal in the rings exercise (as well as a silver medal as part of the team). In 1994, at the Asian Games, he won gold medals in the floor exercise and all-around, silver in the rings exercise, bronze in the pommel horse and uneven bars (as well as gold as part of the team); In addition, in 1994, Li Xiaoshuang won a gold medal at the World Team Championship and a silver medal (in vault) at the individual World Championship. In 1995, he won a gold medal at the World Championships in the all-around, and a silver medal in the floor exercise (as well as a gold medal as part of the team). At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Li Xiaoshuang won a gold medal in the all-around and a silver medal in the floor exercise (as well as a silver medal as a member of the team). In 1997 he completed his sports career.

Alexey Nemov

Alexey Yurievich Nemov - Russian gymnast, 4-time Olympic champion, reserve colonel of the Russian Armed Forces, editor-in-chief of the Bolshoy Sport magazine, born on May 28, 1976 in Mordovia.

Alexey began gymnastics at the age of five at the specialized children's and youth school of the Olympic reserve of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant in the city of Tolyatti. Studied at school 76.

Alexey Nemov won his first victory in 1989 at the USSR youth championship. After a successful start, he began to achieve outstanding results almost every year. In 1990, Alexey Nemov became the winner in certain types of all-around at the USSR Student Youth Spartakiad. In 1990-1993, he was a repeated participant in international competitions and a winner both in certain types of programs and in the absolute championship.

In 1993, Nemov won the RSFSR Cup in the all-around, and at the international meeting “Stars of the World 94” he became a bronze medalist in the all-around. A year later, Alexey Nemov wins the Russian Championship, becomes a four-time champion of the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg and receives three gold and one silver medal at the European Championship in Italy.

At the XXVI Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA), Alexey Nemov becomes a two-time Olympic champion, receives two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. In 1997, he won a gold medal at the World Championships in Switzerland. In 2000, Alexey Nemov won the World and European Championships and became a World Cup winner. At the XXVII Olympic Games in Sydney (Australia), Alexey became the absolute champion, winning six Olympic medals: two gold, one silver and three bronze.

Nemov arrived at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as a clear favorite and leader of the Russian team, despite the injury received before the competition, showing high class, confidence in execution and complexity of the programs. However, his performance on the horizontal bar with the most difficult elements (including 6 flights, including a combination of three flights by Tkachev and a flight by Ginger) was overshadowed by a scandal. The judges gave clearly underestimated scores (especially the judge from Malaysia, who gave only 9.6 points), the average was 9.725. After this, the indignant spectators in the hall, standing for 15 minutes, protested against the judges’ decision with incessant screams, roars and whistles and supported the athlete with applause, not allowing the next athlete to go on the platform. Confused, the judges and the technical committee of the FIG changed the scores for the first time in the history of gymnastics, setting the average slightly higher - 9.762, but still depriving Nemov of a medal. The public continued to be indignant and stopped protesting only when Alexey himself came out and asked the audience to calm down. After this incident, some judges were removed from judging, an official apology was made to the athlete, and revolutionary changes were made to the rules (in addition to the technique score, a difficulty score was introduced, which took into account each element separately, as well as connections between individual complex elements).

Here is this scandalous case:

Paul Hamm

Paul Elbert Hamm was born on September 24, 1982 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA.

Olympic champion and two-time Olympic medalist. Two-time world champion and three-time world championship medalist.

Hamm became the first US gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal in the all-around competition. However, the American's success at the Games in Athens was overshadowed by a refereeing scandal. The fact is that the gymnast from South Korea, Yang Tae Yun, who was the leader in the Olympic competitions, was unfairly underestimated for his performances on the uneven bars. The referees' error was recognized, but the results of the competition were not revised.

Yang Wei

Yang Wei was born on February 8, 1980 in Xiantao, Hubei Province. Yang is a Chinese gymnast, multiple world champion and Olympic champion.

On August 14, 2008, Yang Wei won gold at the Beijing Olympics with 94.575 points. After finishing his performance, he shouted into the camera lens: “I miss you!” He addressed these words to his fiancee, former gymnast Yang Yun. After the 2008 Olympic Games, Yang Wei ended his sports career, and he wanted to give the gold medal to his fiancee as a gift.

Unfortunately, there is very little information about Yan Wei on the RuNet. If there are any gymnastics experts among the readers, we will be grateful for the addition.

Kohei was born on January 3, 1989 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. He is the 2012 Olympic champion in the absolute championship, a four-time vice-champion of the Olympic Games, and a seven-time world champion.

He is famous for being the first gymnast to win the all-around at all major competitions in one Olympic cycle, including the all-around at the Olympics. He also became famous for performing difficult exercises with incredible precision. His skills were praised by International Gymnast Magazine as "a combination of great complexity, consistency and extreme elegance of execution."

In October 2014, Uchimura, speaking at the World Championships in Nanning, China, again beat his rivals in the men's all-around with a score of 91.965, breaking away from his closest pursuer Max Whitlock by 1.492 points. Kohei sets a new personal record - five-time absolute world champion in men's all-around. Uchimura also wins two silver medals: in the team all-around final, and in separate form gymnastic all-around - on the horizontal bar.

Read on Zozhnik:

Taking part in the Olympic Games is an honor for any athlete. Victory in these competitions forever enters the name of the tablet of history. But among these legendary personalities there are also those who managed to reach the top of the Olympic podium more than once.

Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz, USA, swimming, 9 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. He became the first person to win 7 gold medals in just one Olympics (Munich 1972). Only Michael Phelps surpassed him in this achievement. It is noteworthy that Spitz not only won the competition, but also set 7 world records (33 in his entire career). Three times - in 1969, 1971 and 1972 - he was recognized as the best swimmer in the world.

Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis, USA, athletics (sprint and long jump), 9 gold and 1 silver medal. He is one of the few who was able to win gold at four Olympics in a row in the same discipline - the long jump (in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996). It is interesting that he received one of the highest awards by accident: in 1988 in Seoul, he came second to the finish line in the 100 m race, but the winner was subsequently disqualified. Lewis was named the best athlete in the world three times (in 1982, 1983 and 1984).

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps, USA, swimming, 23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. He is the holder of 7 world records (50-meter pool/long course: 100 m and 200 m butterfly, 400 m medley, 4x100-meter freestyle relay, 4x200-meter freestyle relay, 4x100-meter medley relay; 25-meter pool/short course: 4x100m medley relay). In total, he set 39 world records during his career. He has been competing at the Olympic Games since 2000 (Sydney), then he did not win a single medal. But already at the Olympics in Athens in 2004 he won 6 gold and 2 bronze medals. In 2008 in Beijing, he won all 8 swims in which he participated.

Larisa Latynina

Larisa Latynina, USSR, artistic gymnastics, 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals. Absolute Olympic champion in 1956 and 1960, she still remains the owner of the largest collection of Olympic awards among women. In 1964, she won gold medals in the team championship and in the floor exercise, but in the overall championship she still lost first place to Vera Caslavskaya from Czechoslovakia. After those significant victories, she coached the USSR Olympic gymnastics team (in 1968, 1972, 1976).

Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Nurmi, Finland, athletics (middle and long distance running), 9 gold and 3 silver medals. This is one of the most outstanding athletes of the early 20th century. Already at his first Olympics in 1920 in Antwerp, he received three highest awards, on the second - in Paris - he added five more gold medals to his collection. And in between, he broke world records several times at distances from 1,500 to 20,000 m. In 1923-1924, he was the best in the world at distances of 1 mile, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 m. During his career, he set 22 official and 13 unofficial world records.

Birgit Fischer

Birgit Fischer, GDR/Germany, kayaking and canoeing, 8 gold and 4 silver medals. She is the only athlete, either female or male, to win 12 Olympic medals in rowing. Having competed and won at the Olympics for 24 years, she became the youngest (18 years old in 1980) and oldest (42 years old in 2004) Olympic champion in kayaking and canoeing.

Jenny Thompson

Jenny Thompson, USA, swimming, 8 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal. She received almost all of her awards in relay races, with only silver in 1992 in Barcelona and bronze in 2000 in Sydney at a distance of 100 m freestyle becoming “personal” for her. She is also an 18-time world champion. Currently she has completed her career and works as an anesthesiologist.

Sawao Kato

Sawao Kato, Japan, artistic gymnastics, 8 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal. The most decorated male gymnast and the most decorated Asian athlete in Olympic history, he made his Olympic debut in 1968 in Mexico City and immediately won 3 gold medals. He repeated his success at the Games in Munich. The third Olympics brought him “only” two golds. In 1970 and 1974 he became the world champion in the team championship.

Matt Biondi

Matt Biondi, USA, swimming, 8 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal. Twice the world's best swimmer (in 1986 and 1988), he competed in the 50 and 100 m distances. The pinnacle of his career was the 1988 Games in Seoul, where he won five gold medals, a silver and a bronze. He received most of his awards thanks to his participation in relay races; as a member of the relay team, he also became a world record holder.

Ray Urey

Ray Urey, USA, athletics (long and high jump), 8 gold medals. As a child, this athlete contracted polio and had to use a wheelchair for some time. The course of treatment included leg exercises, including jumping. This fascinated him so much that he managed to become a 15-time US champion in standing jumping from 1898 to 1910, until they were cancelled. Yuri took part in four Summer Olympics

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Norway, biathlon, 8 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medal. Since childhood, he was fond of sports, played handball, javelin throwing, cycling, and only then came to biathlon, where he achieved incredible results. Since 1994, he has taken part in six Olympics, winning 8 gold medals (and if at the first in Lillehammer he was unable to show decent results, then in 2002 in Salt Lake City he already became the absolute Olympic champion in biathlon - the only one in the world ). In addition, he won 21 times at the world championships, including once in summer biathlon.

Bjorn Delhi

Bjorn Delhi, Norway, skiing, 8 gold, 4 silver medals. His successes were evenly distributed between three Olympics: 1992, 1994 and 1998. At the same time, he is one of two athletes who managed to win the most prestigious 50 km race at the Olympic Games twice (in 1992 and 1998). Previously, only Swede Sixten Jernberg succeeded in this at the 1956 and 1964 Games. The 9-time world champion ended his career in 2001 due to a previous back injury.

Aug 20, 2016 Sep 8, 2017 by vaulter

The history of the modern Olympic Games goes back 120 years. It was in 1894 that the decision was made in Paris to revive the Olympic Games. Over its long history, the Olympic movement has transformed from chaotic and unpopular competitions into the main sports festival of the planet. Hundreds of athletes have become famous and great thanks to their success at the Olympic Games. Thousands of athletes were awarded the titles of Olympic champions and medalists. However, in the history of the Games there are also those who, with their awards and dedication to sport, made the greatest contribution to the development of the Olympic Games.

We present to your attention the ten most titled Olympic champions from 1894 to 2016.

The 10 athletes who are presented below are determined by the number of gold medals, and not by the total number of awards won!!!

Silver and bronze medals are of secondary importance. This is exactly the approach used in the unofficial team competition at the Olympic Games. The fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, won 3 gold medals at three Olympic Games. From the Games in Beijing to the Olympics in Rio, Bolt always won at distances of 100 and 200 meters, and also won gold in the 4 x 100 m relay as part of the Jamaican national team. Unfortunately, Bolt was deprived of one gold medal. A prohibited substance was found in the doping test of Bolt’s national team colleague, Nest Carter, who was a participant in the relay in 2008, and the Jamaican team was deprived of Beijing gold, and Bolt became an eight-time Olympic champion. In terms of the number of medals, Bolt is not in the TOP 10.

10-9 places. Jenny Thompson and Saavo Kato

Ninth and tenth places were shared between Jenny Thompson and Japanese Saavo Kato. The athletes won 8 gold medals. But Thompson won them in the swimming competition, and Kato won the Olympic gymnastics competition 8 times. In addition, the athletes have 3 silvers and one bronze.

Can rightfully be called a “team player”. Since the athlete won almost all her medals in relay races. Thompson's first Olympic triumph came at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, where the swimmer won 2 gold medals in two 4x100 m relay races (freestyle and medley). Also in Catalonia, the American became second in the 100 m freestyle. In Atlanta in 1996, the swimmer not only repeated the achievement of four years ago, but also increased it. Jenny Tomposn won 3 gold medals in three relay races: 4x100 m and 4x200 m freestyle, combined 4x100 m. In Sydney Olympics, the athlete, as if a carbon copy, again wins 3 gold medals in relay races. At the same time, he enhances his success with a personal bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle swim. However, this was not enough for her. The 31-year-old swimmer took part in the 2004 Games, where she won two more silver medals in relays.

- one of the most outstanding gymnasts in history. He has 12 medals, 8 of which are of the highest value. The gymnast first became an Olympic champion in Mexico City in 1968, where he was the best in the absolute championship, floor exercise and with the team. In exercises on rings, Kato showed the third result. In 1972, the Japanese again won 3 medals. And again Saavo Kato is the best in the absolute and team championships. Also, the gymnast had no equal on the uneven bars. On the pommel horse and horizontal bar, the gymnast was second. The last Olympic Games of a Japanese person were the 1976 Games in Montreal. And here the athlete did not make a mistake. The 30-year-old gymnast won 2 golds: uneven bars and team championship. Silver in the overall championship.

Overall result: 12 medals. 8 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze.

7-8 places.

Seventh and eighth places were shared between representatives of summer and winter sports. Birgit Fischer is the most titled representative of kayaking. And Bjorn Daly had no equal in cross-country skiing.

ranks second among women (after Larisa Latynina) in the number of Olympic awards. The period during which the athlete managed to win numerous medals is also impressive. Fischer won her first Olympic gold back in 1980 in Moscow. The last Olympic triumph occurred with a German woman 24 years later at the Olympic Games in Athens. Oh, if it weren’t for the boycott of 1984, who knows how many medals the phenomenal rower would have won. In 1980, the German woman won gold in the 500 m single sculls. In Seoul 1988, the gold double in the double and quadruple, and Fischer was second in the single. In Barcelona, the German is again the best in singles. The second athlete was in the four. In Atlanta 1996, gold again. This time in four. The second Fischer was in two. In Sydney, Birgit Fischer wins 2 golds - in two and four. But this was not enough for the insatiable German woman. In 2004, the 42-year-old rower went to the Games in Athens where her experience brought gold to the German four, and silver to the two. Only after this did the athlete calm down and leave the sport.

- the best skier of all time. The Norwegian ranks second in the number of gold medals after the legendary Bjoerndalen. The athlete won all his Olympic awards evenly. From each Games from 1992 to 1998, a skier took home 4 medals. It’s only in Albertville and Nagano that the Norwegian managed to win 3 gold medals each, and in 1994 in Lillehammer Daly won 2 medals of the highest value. To be fair, it should be noted that Daly was in a period when the Winter Olympic Games were held not once every 4 years, but once every 2 years - in 1992 and 1994, respectively. This is due to the decision of the IOC that the summer and winter Games be held two years apart. The Norwegian also has 4 silver medals.

Overall result: 12 medals. 8 gold, 4 silver.

6th place. .

Ole Bjoerndalen- the king of biathlon. Also, the legendary Norwegian takes absolute first place in the number of Olympic awards among representatives of winter sports. The Norwegian began collecting medals in 1988, when in Nagano he won gold in the 10 km sprint and silver in the 4x7.5 km relay. The 2002 Games were held under the leadership of the king. In Salt Lake City, Bjoerndalen won 4 gold medals. In 2006, out of three medals, none was gold, but the Norwegian biathlete did not give up and was able to win gold in Vancouver and 2 gold medals in Sochi. Read more about famous biathlete in our article

Overall result: 13 medals. 8 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze.

5th place. .

Total result: 10 medals. 9 gold, 1 silver.

4th place. .

Overall result: 11 medals. 9 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze.

3rd place. .

Overall result: 12 medals. 9 gold, 3 silver.

2. .

Overall result: 18 medals. 9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze.

1. .

Overall result: 26 medals. 22 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze.

Becoming an Olympic champion at least once in your life is an unattainable dream for many athletes. But some lucky ones manage to win gold, silver and bronze medals not once, not twice, but ten or more times.

We present to you a list of the most titled Olympic champions in the history of sports.

10. Birgit Fischer, Germany

Total medals - 12.
Of these, 8 are gold, 4 are silver, and 0 are bronze.

Here is a photo of the only woman who managed to win at least two medals at five Olympics.

Fischer was 42 when she took gold in the 500m quad and silver in the 500m pair, making her the oldest Olympic champion to compete in canoeing and kayaking.

It’s funny that at the same time, Fischer is also the youngest champion, since she won her first gold in 1980, at the age of 18.

9. Paavo Nurmi, Finland

Total medals - 12.
Of these, 9 are gold, 3 are silver, and 0 are bronze.

This runner was part of a group of athletes from Finland who were called the “Flying Finns.” He quickly gained worldwide fame when he began his career at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. His smooth and mechanical step at the beginning of the journey gave way to a furious jerk when only a few meters remained to the finish line.

Nurmi set 22 official world records at distances ranging from 1,500 meters to 20 kilometers. He is considered the greatest track and field athlete of all time.

8. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Norway

Total medals - 13.
Of these, 8 are gold, 4 are silver, 1 is bronze.

At the 2012 Winter Olympics, Björndalen did not leave his opponents a single chance, winning 4 victories out of 4 possible. He was the first in the world to become an absolute Olympic champion in biathlon.

However, Björndalen received his personal gold medal only 12 years after his finest hour in Salt Lake City. This happened in Sochi in 2014. Then the pride of the Norwegian team managed to beat their nearest rival by a little more than a second, despite one mistake at the start. That year, Björndalen became the oldest winner of an individual biathlon race in the history of the Olympic Games.

More recently, in 2018, the Norwegian athlete announced the end of his sports career.

7. Takashi Ono, Japan

Total medals - 13.
Of these, 5 are gold, 4 are silver, and 4 are bronze.

This Japanese gymnast is one of three Olympians who managed to win at least 4 medals of each value. In addition, he became the first Olympic champion from Japan in artistic gymnastics.

At the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Takashi Ono was given the honor of reciting the Olympic oath on behalf of all athletes. At the same Olympics, he won his last fifth gold medal.

6. Edoardo Mangiarotti, Italy

Total medals - 13.
Of these, 6 are gold, 5 are silver, and 2 are bronze.

When it comes to fencing, no one comes close to Italian maestro Edoardo Mangiarotti, who has proven to be the most prolific winner at the Olympics and World Championships.

Fencing talent literally runs through the veins of the Mangiarotti family. Edoardo's father was a 17-time Italian champion in epee fencing. He advised his son to become left-handed (although he was naturally right-handed) in order to gain an advantage in sports. Edoardo's fencing style was inconvenient for his opponents.

Mangiarotti began taking fencing lessons at the age of 8. He trained alongside his brother Dario, who is also an accomplished swordsman. And Edoardo won his first gold medal at the age of 17.

5. Boris Shakhlin, USSR

Total medals - 13.
Of these, 7 are gold, 4 are silver, and 2 are bronze.

In the top five olympic athletes Those who won the largest number of medals were two gymnasts and one gymnast from the USSR. Shahlin is the first of this trio.

Being an orphan, without patronage from above, he managed to reach the sports Olympus, largely thanks to the support of his first coach V.A. Porfiryev, who taught the boy to fight to the last.

For his calm and confident manner during sports competitions, foreign journalists called Shakhlin a “Russian bear.”

4. Marit Bjorgen, Norway

Total medals - 15.
Of these, 8 are gold, 4 are silver, and 3 are bronze.

Although Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina has more Olympic medals than Bjorgen, the Norwegian skier is the most decorated athlete in the Winter Olympics. She is considered the strongest female skier in modern history.

However, the name Marit Bjørgen is also associated with high-profile scandals. In 2009, she received permission from the FIS to use asthma medications that contained doping substances, including formoterol. This displeased many other athletes. For example, Polish skier Justyna Kowalczyk said that without the help of drugs, Bjorgen would not have been able to achieve her current stunning results.

3. Nikolay Andrianov, USSR

Total medals - 15.
Of these, 7 are gold, 5 are silver, and 3 are bronze.

His first coach, Nikolai Tolkachev, played a huge role in Adrianov’s brilliant career. He persuaded the boy not to quit gymnastics, and even helped him with homework and attended parent-teacher meetings. And Tolkachev’s efforts paid off handsomely. His student became a multiple world, USSR and European champion.

Until 2008, this Soviet athlete held the title of absolute record holder for the number of Olympic medals, until American Michael Phelps received his 16th medal.

2. Larisa Latynina, USSR

Total medals - 18.
Of these, 9 are gold, 5 are silver, and 4 are bronze.

This multiple Olympic champion helped establish Soviet Union as a dominant force in gymnastics.

Although Michael Phelps beat her in total medals, Latynina's record for the most medals received in individual events (14) remains unsurpassed.

Latynina was so devoted to the sport that she competed at the 1958 World Championships in Moscow while four months pregnant. Her performances combined the grace and spectacle of dance with the stability and skill of an experienced athlete.

In 1966, Latynina became the coach of the USSR national artistic gymnastics team. Her team won gold three times during the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.

1. Michael Phelps, USA

Total medals - 28.
Of these, 23 are gold, 3 are silver, and 2 are bronze.

The clear winner in the ranking of the most decorated Olympic champions is American swimmer Michael Phelps. It boasts both the highest number of Olympic gold medals and the largest number medals in general. He has been called "the greatest Olympian of all time."

“The Baltimore Bullet” (this is one of Phelps’ nicknames) became the only 23-time Olympic champion in sports history. However, other Olympians have a chance to surpass this achievement, since after the Rio Olympics in 2016, Phelps announced his final retirement from the sport.

Why is he so good?

Michael Phelps' advantages are his height, weight, and the length of his arms and legs. His long torso and short legs reduce resistance to body movement in the water and allow you to swim forward as quickly as possible. However, he wears size 47 shoes.

Phelps has an arm span of 203 cm and a height of 193 cm. While still a schoolboy, he could hug five classmates in one fell swoop. Noticing this feature, useful for a swimmer, coach Bob Bowman invited the young man to the swimming section.

If ordinary people are 80% water, while Phelps is 90% water. He even got into the Guinness Book of Records as an athlete who can drink more liquid than he weighs - 91 liters.

And his heart is able to pump about 30 liters of blood per minute. Thanks to this, the most titled athlete in history quickly recovered from intense swims.