The Olympic Games are filled with the greatest athletes who demonstrate, without a shadow of a doubt, their sheer athleticism, raw determination, and awe-inspiring spirit for their respective countries. Some of these athletes have gone on to do the impossible in times of uncertainty and are forever cemented in the history books. This is why we decided to check up some of the greatest athletes in Olympic history, take a look!
Michael Phelps – Swimming
Michael Phelps really needs no introduction, he’s a living Olympic legend. He has earned a whopping 28 Olympic medals, 23 of which are gold, during four separate Olympics from 2004 to 2016. Phelps is married to the former Miss California Nicole Johnson and the two had their first son in 2016. It’s safe to say, he’s enjoying retirement!
Michael Phelps – Swimming
Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner – Decathlon
After undergoing intense training, Caitlyn Jenner won the 1976 Olympic decathlon event at the Montreal Olympic Games, earning fame as “an all-American hero”. Jenner went on to set a third successive world record while winning the Olympics. Traditionally the winner of the Olympic decathlon is given the unofficial title of “world’s greatest athlete”. Since then, Jenner has gone on to become the most famous transgender woman in the world, starring in her own reality television show.
Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner – Decathlon
Dominique Dawes – Gymnastics
In the gymnastics community, Dominique Dawes is known as ‘Awesome Dawesome.’ Dawes accomplished a lot but is highly notable as being the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, and also the first black person of any nationality or gender to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics. After retiring, she served as President of the Women’s Sports Federation from 2004–2006, she’s the first spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the USA’s “Uniquely Me”, and she is the co-chair for the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
Dominique Dawes Gymnastics
Kristi Yamaguchi – Figure Skating
Up next is the legend herself, Kristi Yamaguchi. In ladies’ singles alone, Yamaguchi is the 1992 Olympic champion, is a two-time World champion in 1991 and 1992, she is and the 1992 U.S. champion. She was a pair skater with Rudy Galindo, is the 1988 World Junior champion and is also a two-time national champion (1989 and 1990). In December of 2005, Yamaguchi was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. In 2008, she was the winner of Dancing with the Stars. Apart from being a wife and mother, she is also a children’s book author.
Kristi Yamaguchi – Figure Skating
Larisa Latynina – Gymnastics
During 1956 and 1964, Larisa Latynina was a force to be reckoned with. She won 14 individual Olympic medals along with four team medals. Latynina holds the record for most Olympic gold medals by a gymnast, male or female, with a total of 9. Her whopping total of 18 Olympic medals was a record for over 48 years (until Michael Phelps broke it in 2012). She also held the record for individual event medals with 14 for over 52 years (until Michael Phelps broke it in 2016). After retirement, she coached for the Soviet national gymnastics team.
Larisa Latynina – Gymnastics
Mary Lou Retton – Gymnastics
During the 1984 Summer Olympics, Mary Lou Retton won gold in the individual all-around competition, AND two silver medals and two bronze medals. Her performance then made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States, earning her the nickname “America’s Sweetheart”. Retton was the first ever American woman to have won the all-around gold medal at the Olympics and was also the only one to do so for 20 years. She is credited as a pioneering figure in American women’s gymnastics. After retirement, she has done many commercial endorsements and is often a analyst for televised gymnastics.
Mary Lou Retton – Gymnastics
Mia Hamm – Soccer
Our dear Mia Hamm is two-time Olympic gold medalist and a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner. From 1987 to 2004, Hamm played as the forward for the United States women’s national soccer team and was a founding member of Washington Freedom, the first professional women’s soccer league in the United States, the WUSA. She has won many, many awards and is regarded as one of the most important athletes of all time. After retirement, she founded The Mia Hamm Foundation, is a global ambassador for FC Barcelona, is a published author, and is on the board of directors of Italian club, A.S. Roma.
Mia Hamm – Soccer
Red Gerrard- Snowboarding
So, we don’t really need to update you on this Olympian because he’s huge news right now. At just 17 years old, Red Gerrard became the first American to win gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics. However, that is not why everyone was talking about him. Actually, he went viral because he fell asleep to Netflix the night before, then woke up late Saturday morning. He couldn’t find his own jacket and had to borrow his roommate’s! Oh and after an outstanding run with extra style points awarded, he cursed on television as his score went up. People cannot get over this incredible teen! Hilarious!
Red Gerrard- Snowboarding
Adam Rippon- Figure Skating
Again, we don’t need to tell you much about where American figure skater Adam Rippon has been. Although this skater did not win gold, he did take home bronze for the 2018 Winter Olympics. However, it was not just his impressive performances, but his personality that rocketed him to international fame. I mean, he had celebrities like Zach Braff, Reese Witherspoon and Sally Fields tweeting at him! Rippon became the first openly gay athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics and is not shy about speaking out against Vice President Mike Pence’s anti-gay stance. In a photo he tweeted at Mike Pence, he was seen kissing fellow Olympian Gus Kenworthy.
Adam Rippon- Figure Skating
Mckayla Maroney – Gymnastics
McKayla Maroney created quite the storm during the 2012 Olympic Games, and not just because of her performance in the vault, which earned her a silver medal, but also largely due to her infamous “not impressed” facial expression while she was on the podium receiving her medal. She also contributed to the team winning gold that same year. Since then, she has actually retired from gymnastics due to health issues and is instead focused on building an acting and singing career while simultaneously building a massive social media following.
Mckayla Maroney – Gymnastics
Frankie Fredericks – Track
Frankie Fredericks ran the 100 meters and 200 meters, winning four silver medals at the Olympic Games, making him Namibia’s first and only (so far) Olympic medalist. Currently, he is still the world indoor record-holder for 200 meters, with an awesome time of 19.92 seconds set in 1996. Fredericks is the oldest man to break 20 seconds for the 200 meters. In 2002 in Rome, he won the 200 meters at a time of 19.99 seconds at just the age of 34 years 283 days. Today he serves on as the council member in the IAAF.
Frankie Fredericks – Track
George Foreman – Boxing
Before George Foreman started his professional boxing career, he first won a gold medal in the boxing/heavyweight division at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. After he retired from boxing, he went on to become an ordained minister, author, and entrepreneur.
George Foreman – Boxing
Greg Louganis – Diving
This Californian won gold medals in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games on the springboard and platform. Greg Louganis is the only male and the second diver in Olympic history to have swept the diving events in consecutive Olympic Games. In 1984, he also received the James E. Sullivan Award from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Since retiring, he has become an LGBT activist and author.
Greg Louganis – Diving
Ian Thorpe – Swimming
“Thorpedo” has accomplished a lot in his profession career. He’s won five Olympic gold medals, which is the most won by an Australian, and has three gold and two silver medals, Thorpe was also the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Remember that at age 14, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia. Since retirement, he is a pundit for BBC Television and an author.
Ian Thorpe – Swimming
Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Track
Jackie Joyner-Kersee IS ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the heptathlon (a track and field event combined up of seven events), as well as the long jump. She has won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals. Sports Illustrated for Women magazine also voted Joyner-Kersee as the Greatest Female Athlete of All-Time. After retirement, she has been a part of many philanthropic efforts and joined the Board of Directors for USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body of the sport.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Track
Janet Beth Evans – Swimming
Evans is a former competition swimmer whose specialty was in distance freestyle events. She was a world champion and a world record-holder, winning a total of four gold medals during the 1988 and the 1992 Olympics. She earned the wonderful nickname of “Miss Perpetual Motion.” After retiring, Evans became a motivational speaker and was a corporate spokesperson for various companies.
Janet Beth Evans – Swimming
Jean Claude Killy – Skiing
Meet the former French World Cup alpine ski racer. Killy totally dominated the sport in the late 1960s, becoming a triple Olympic champion, winning three alpine events at the 1968 Winter Olympics. He was the most successful athlete at those Olympics. He also went on to win the first two World Cup titles, in 1967 and 1968. Since retirement, he has done a few television ads, was the spokesman for Schwinn bicycles, United Airlines, and Chevrolet automobiles, and in 2000, he became Grand Officer of the Légion d’honneur.
Jean Claude Killy – Skiing
Bjorn Daehlie – Cross Country Skiing
This Norweigan during the years of 1992 to 1999, won the Nordic World Cup a whopping 6 times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. Daehlie also won a total of 29 (!) medals in the Olympics and also the World Championships during 1991 and 1999, making Daehlie the most successful cross-country skier in history. Currently, he is a successful businessman in real estate and fashion.
Bjorn Daehlie – Cross Country Skiing
Mike Eruzione – Hockey
Mike Eruzione will always be remembered as the captain of the 1980 Winter Olympics United States national team that went on to defeat the Soviet Union in the ever famous “Miracle on Ice” game, where he scored the game-winning goal. After retirement, he became a television broadcaster, and returned to his alma mater, Boston University, and became the assistant coach for the hockey team for three seasons, currently he works there as Director of Special Outreach.
Mike Eruzione – Hockey
Peggy Fleming – Figure Skating
Peggy Fleming’s unusual style lead her to be the 1968 Olympic Champion in Ladies’ singles and a three-time World Champion (1966–1968). Since retirement, Fleming became a television commentator in figure skating for over 20 years, including many Winter Olympic Games.
Peggy Fleming – Figure Skating
Ryan Lochte – Swimming
Most of you probably recognize the name Ryan Lochte, and why wouldn’t you? He’s a 12-time Olympic medalist (six gold, three silver, three bronze), which ranks him as second in swimming behind Michael Phelps. Currently, he’s been banned from swimming for 10 months due to false claims during the 2016 Summer Olympics. He and fiance Kayla Rae Reid are expecting their first child.
Ryan Lochte – Swimming
Sawao Kato – Gymnastics
Sawao Kato is one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time! During 1968 and 1976, he won twelve Olympic medals, eight of which were gold. As of 2010, Kato is a professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Sawao Kato – Gymnastics
Shannon Lee Miller – Gymnastics
We could talk about Shannon Lee Miller’s successful record all day long, she’s that good! She was the 1993-94 World All-Around Champion, the 1996 Olympics balance beam gold medalist, and was a member of the gold medal-winning Magnificent Seven team at the Atlanta Olympics. Miller is THE most decorated U.S. Gymnast Male or Female at the Olympic games with a total of seven medals. She has a combined total of 16 World Championships and Olympic medals, ranking her as the second most decorated gymnast, Male or Female, in U.S. history, behind Simone Biles. Since retirement, she has been in a business partnership with Juice Plus, is a published author; and she’s currently President of Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women, and President of the Shannon Miller Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting childhood obesity.
Shannon Lee Miller – Gymnastics
Andre Agassi – Tennis
In 1996, Andre Agassi won gold at the Olympic Games, proving that he really was King of Tennis. He’s the founder of the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, to date, its raised over $60 million for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.
Andre Agassi – Tennis
Sebastian Coe – Track & Field
During the 1984 Summer Olympics, Coe won gold for the 1500 meter run. Currently, he’s a politician in Great Britain.
Sebastian Coe – Track & Field
Carl Lewis – Track
Carl Lewis pretty much defined being a male Olympic athlete for the United States during the 1980s, when he won nine gold medals between 1984 and 1996. He showed a rather uncommon longevity in the track and field world. Sports Illustrated also dubbed him the Olympian of the Century. Lewis is currently a successful businessman.
Carl Lewis – Track
Mark Spitz – Swimming
Spitz was the Michael Phelps of the 70s, he won nine gold medals and 11 overall medals while setting an insane amount of world records in his career. What’s even more impressive, he did all of this in just two separate Olympic Games: the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Mark Spitz – Swimming
Alexandre Despaite – Diving
The Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie won two silver medals in his career. Since retirement, he’s worked as the co-host of the Canadian show Breakfast Television and has co-anchored Olympic coverage.
Alexandre Despaite Diving
Allan Wells – Track & Field
Wells is the British track and field sprinter who won gold in the 100 meters during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. After retirement, Wells set his sights to becoming a coach for the British bobsleigh team.
Allan Wells – Track & Field
Elisabeta Lipa – Rowing
For 20 years, Lipa earned five gold medals and eight total medals while representing Romania. Lipa still holds the record for most years between her gold medals, with her 20 years between victories. Since retiring, she has servied as Minister of Youth and Sport and also as the President of the Romanian Rowing Federation.
Elisabeta Lipa Rowing
Jenny Thompson – Swimming
Jenny Thompson won eight gold medals and 12 total medals during the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games. Since then, she’s gone on to earn a medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Currently she works in anesthesiology in Portland, Maine.
Jenny Thompson – Swimming
Birgit Fischer – Kayaking
Fischer participated in six Olympic Games over 24 years, and was the youngest and oldest Olympic champion ever in canoe racing. Currently, she is a photographer and is married to fellow canoe racer, Jorg Schmidt.
Birgit Fischer – Kayaking
Summer Sanders – Swimming
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Sanders won two gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal. She has also been active as a commentator for years, while also reporting on sports such as the NBA, WNBA, tennis, and more.
Summer Sanders – Swimming
Bart Conner – Gymnastics
Conner here won two gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. In 1976, he also began his Olympic career as the ~youngest~ member of the team. He helped the team win gold in 1984, making this the first time they snatched a win in 80 years. Since retiring, he married the legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci, and together, they are remarkably charitable.
Bart Conner – Gymnastics
Oscar De La Hoya – Boxing
This legend won a gold medal for the U.S. in 1992 and he carried on boxing professionally until 2009, earning 39 professional victories while also winning ten world titles. He helped to found the Golden Boy Promotions and is also one of the top promoters in the boxing world.
Oscar De La Hoya – Boxing
Brandi Chastain – Soccer
Chastain won gold in the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games, while her team also took silver in the 2000 competition. She married her former college soccer coach and she currently is coaching the Bellarmine College Preparatory varsity boys soccer team.
Brandi Chastain – Soccer
Dick Fosbury – Track
Fosbury is credited with revolutionizing the world of track, especially in the high jump. He was, in fact, the first competitor to ever jump over the bar back first in what later became known as the Fosbury Flop. This is how he won gold at the 1968 Olympic Games. Currently he has serves in the Idaho House of Representatives.
Dick Fosbury – Track
Usain Bolt – Track
Everyone knows that Usain Bolt has lightning speed, he proved this in the Olympics when he shattered records and secured nine gold medals. In his career, he has also NEVER not placed first. He’s currently relaxing and considering becoming a soccer player.
Usain Bolt – Track
Anastasia Davydova – Synchronized Swimming
In the world of synchronized swimming, Anastasia Davydova is a legend. She is a five time Olympic gold medalist, all of which were earned during the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games. Since retiring, she has become a coach in the field.
Anastasia Davydova – Synchronized Swimming
Charles Barkley – Basketball
Charles Barkley was part of the original “Dream Team” that went on to win two gold medals for the U.S. basketball team. He has appeared in the 1992 and the 1996 Olympics games. Currently, he is a sports analyst and yes, for basketball.
Charles Barkley – Basketball
Gail Devers – Track
Gail Devers will always be remembered as the girl with the extremely long fingernails in the 1992 Olympic Games. She did win three gold medals during her career, in the 100-meter (1992 and 1996) and the 4×100 meter (1996).
Gail Devers – Track
Edwin Moses – Track
Edwin Moses won two gold medals and a silver medal as the 400-meter hurdles specialist. He also took home gold at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games before winning silver in his final Olympics in 1988.
Edwin Moses – Track
Steven Geoffrey Redgrave – Rowing
Redgrave won gold in five straight Olympic games spanning 16 year!. Back in 1988, he married fellow-rower Ann Callaway, and they have three kids together. He is also the honorary president of British Rowing and in 1997, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Steven Geoffrey Redgrave – Rowing
Sergey Bubka – Track
In 1988, Sergey Bubka won gold in the pole vault during the Seoul Olympic Games. He has also won six gold medals in the World Championships. Bubka also broke the men’s pole vault record a whopping total of 35 times during his career. Currently he is the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
Sergey Bubka – Track
Jan Zelezny – Track
Jan Zelezny won three Olympic gold medals, AND he owns the top five javelin throws of all-time, which include the world record of 98.48 meters (323 feet). He won gold at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games, and a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics. Currently, he’s a coach and is also a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Jan Zelezny – Track
Nadia Comaneci – Gymnastics
At the mere age of 14, Romanian Nadia Comaneci became the first ever gymnast in Olympic history to be awarded the ~perfect score~ of 10.0 at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Eventually, she went on to receive six more perfect 10s in Montreal and three gold medals. Four years later, Comaneci won two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics and a total of nine Olympic medals and four World Championship medals during her career. Comăneci is one of the best-known gymnasts in the whole world and is credited with popularizing the sport. Since then, she has become an American citizen, married American Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner, and is also an author.
Nadia Comaneci – Gymnastics