Paris Olympics 2024: The Olympic Games have been a prominent international sporting event since the first modern Olympics in 1896. The 33rd Summer Olympics were held in Paris, France, marking the third occasion that Paris hosted the Summer Games, with previous occurrences in 1900 and 1924, and now 2024, has finally concluded. The 18-day Paris Olympics featured 3,800 hours of live sports coverage, with approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 nations competing in 329 medal events across 32 sports. India was represented in 16 sports by 70 men and 47 women, all aiming to add more medals to India's tally. In the 2024 Olympics bagged 6 medals, 1 silver and 5 bronze, making India's medal count from 35 to 41 Olympic medals presently, including 10 gold medals, to date. With eight gold medals won by India's hockey team, the remaining two gold medals were secured by former sports shooter Abhinav Bindra and track and field athlete Neeraj Chopra, who recently won gold in the men's javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics. Across more than half of all Olympic Games, the United States has secured the highest number of medals compared to any other country, with Michael Phelps, one of the most celebrated American swimmers, holding the record for the Olympian of all time, having won a total of 28 medals, 23 of which are gold. Following closely is Larisa Latynina, a former Soviet gymnast, who is among the most celebrated female Olympians and gymnasts, with a total of 18 medals, half of which are gold. Ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, the world's largest multi-sport event, let's take a look at the 10 most decorated Olympians who have secured the most medals in history. The top 10 athletes with the most Olympic medals to date: Athlete Country Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total Michael Phelps United States of America Swimming 23 3 2 28 Larisa Latynina Ukraine (former U.S.S.R.) Gymnastics 9 5 4 18 Marit Bjørgen Norway Cross-country skiing (Winter Olympics) 8 4 3 15 Nikolay Andrianov U.S.S.R. Gymnastics 7 5 3 15 Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Biathlon, Cross-country skiing 8 4 1 13 Boris Shakhlin Russia (former U.S.S.R.) Gymnastics 7 4 2 13 Ireen Wüst Netherlands Speed skating 6 5 2 13 Edoardo Mangiarotti Italy Fencing 6 5 2 13 Takashi Ono Japan Gymnastics 5 4 4 13 Paavo Nurmi Finland Biathlon, Cross-country skiing 9 3 0 12 Source: Britannica.com Please note: As the Soviet Union no longer exists, and as per the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the medals won by athletes or teams are attributed to the country they represented at the time of the Olympic Games. 1. Michael Phelps: Michael Phelps, widely acknowledged as one of history's greatest swimmers, holds the record for most Olympic medals earned by any athlete to date. Phelps started his athletic journey at the age of 15 at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, where he won his first international gold. He then went on to dominate the swimming scene in five Olympic Games, from Athens 2004 to Rio 2016, claiming an incredible 23 gold medals, including eight in Beijing 2008. 2. Larisa Latynina: Larisa Latynina earned the most successful female Olympian before Michael Phelps. Latynina competed for the Soviet Union (present-day Ukraine) in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics, showcasing remarkable gymnastic skills by excelling in floor exercises, balancing beams, and uneven bars. Her beautiful displays and technical accuracy won her 18 Olympic medals, including nine golds. 3. Marit Bjorgen: Marit Bjorgen is the most recognised Winter Olympian in history, known for her supremacy in cross-country skiing. Her Olympic career extended from Salt Lake City in 2002 to PyeongChang in 2018, during which she claimed 15 medals, eight of which were gold, thereby establishing her legendary reputation in winter sports. 4. Nikolai Andrianov: Nikolai Andrianov, one of the most exceptional male gymnasts in Olympic history, has made a lasting impression on the sport. Andrianov competed in three Olympics between 1972 and 1980, earning 15 medals. 5. Ole Einar Bjorndalen: Ole Einar Bjorndalen's exceptional shooting and skiing ability revolutionised the biathlon. Bjorndalen competed in six Olympic Games between 1994 and 2014, winning 13 medals, eight of which were gold, demonstrating his exquisite precision despite extreme physical difficulty. 6. Boris Shakhlin: Boris Shakhlin captivated audiences with his exceptional gymnastic skills and agility, demonstrating both technical precision and physical power. In the 1960s, he won 13 Olympic golds for his achievements in vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bars. 7. Edoardo Mangiarotti: Known as one of the most decorated fencers in Olympic history, Edoardo Mangiarotti competed in foil and epee events at six Olympic Games between 1936 and 1960. His extraordinary talent, tactical competence, and sportsmanship earned him 13 Olympic medals. 8. Ireen Wust: Ireen Wust is the most successful Dutch Olympian in the Winter Olympics, winning five medals in speed skating between 2006 and 2022. Wust's dominance in both sprint and distance events won her 13 Olympic medals, six of which were gold. 9. Takashi Ono: Takashi Ono remains recognised as one of Japan's finest gymnasts, winning 13 Olympic medals in various gymnastics events throughout four Olympic Games from 1952 to 1964. 10. Paavo Nurmi: Paavo Nurmi continues to be acknowledged as one of the best middle- and long-distance runners in Olympic history, having competed in track events in three Olympic Games between 1920 and 1928, winning a total of 12 Olympic medals, nine of which were gold. These inspiring Olympians have not only scaled the heights of athletic excellence on the grandest global stage but have also captivated and motivated countless individuals worldwide with their unwavering commitment, resilience in the face of adversity, and embodiment of the highest ideals of sportsmanship.
