Top 10 Olympic Athletes Of All Time

The sports and athletes directly link with the development of the nation. It is the sports by which the countries come together and they share a love bond with each other. The athletes have the true spirit of nationhood and they show it by sports. When an athlete plays well, the whole nation stands united to honor him and there is an atmosphere of happiness and joy on the win of athletes.

The history of the Olympic Games dates back to the 8th century BC in ancient Greece and later on, it was played in Athens by the late 18th century. The Olympic Games underwent many changes in the later years. There are some of the best Olympic athletes in the world who have been respected by their countries even today. We have listed out Top 10 Olympic Athletes Of All Time.

10. Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens is an American athlete who had won the gold medal in the Olympic Games of the year 1936 in track and field event. He was considered as one of the best track and field athletes in the world. He won 4 gold medals in the Summer Olympics of 1936. He practiced running during his school days.

Jesse Owens performed best in many events such as jumping and 100 m race. He died in the year 1980 due to lung cancer and even today, he is remembered for his world records in 45 minutes by his fans.

9. Larisa Latynina

Larisa Latynina is the winner of 14 Olympic medals from the year 1956 to 1964. She practiced ballet and gymnastics from his school time. She played for the first time in Rome World Championships in the year 1954 where she won the gold medal.

She also won silver medal and bronze medals on uneven bars and other categories. Larisa Latynina took retirement from the sport after playing in the World Championship of the year 1966. She was the organizer of the gymnastics competition in the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980.

8. Usain Bolt

At number 8, it is a Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt. He has been the champion in the events of 100 and 200 meters. Usain Bolt has won 8 gold medals in Olympics. He got fame all over the world with his double sprint victory in the Beijing Olympics in the year 2008.

He is the only athlete who won 3 titles in both the events of 100 m as well as 200 m. Usain Bolt achieved many awards such as IAAF World Athlete and Laureus World Sportsman for 4 times. He retired from the sport in the year 2017.

7. Nadia Comaneci

Nadia Comaneci is one of the best Olympic athletes in the world. She is the winner of 9 Olympic medals and 4 World Championship medals. She has won 2 gold medals in the Olympics held in Moscow in the year 1980. Nadia carried the torch to the roof of Olympic in the Summer Olympics in the year 2012 in London.

She was the first gymnast to get a perfect score of 10.0 in the Olympics of the year 1976. Nadia Comaneci has received many awards such as the Flo Hyman Award, The Olympic Order and many more.

6. Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Nurmi was one of the greatest runners from Finland. He has made some of the best records in the events of 1500 meters and 20 km. He got the inspiration for running in the year 1912 from Hannes Kolehmainen and later on, he practiced very hard for running.

He then made national records and got a chance to perform in the Summer Olympics of the year 1920. Paavo Nurmi got gold and silver medals in 10,000 m and 5,000 m respectively. He is even loved by his fans for his best world records.

5. Sir Steve Redgrave

Sir Steve Redgrave is the only athlete to win gold medals in endurance sport in 5 Olympic Games. He is the winner of 9 gold medals and 2 silvers and one bronze medal in World Rowing Championships.

Sir Steve Redgrave is the best rower in Olympic Games so far. He took the British flag in the opening of the Olympic Games twice. He got the Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2011.

4. Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz is a swimming champion with 7 gold medals in the Summer Olympics in the year 1972. He is also the winner of silver and bronze medals and 5 PAN American golds and 31 titles of Amateur Athletic Union and 8 titles of National Collegiate Athletic Association.

He made some of the best world records in swimming in his career receiving World Swimmer of the Year. He is the third Olympic athlete to get 9 gold medals.

3. Carl Lewis

At number 3, it is a former American athlete to win 9 gold medals in the Olympic Games in the track and field event. He performed outstandingly in the events of sprint and long jumping and also in 100 m and 200 m. He achieved 65 victories in the long jump event.

Carl Lewis has received many titles such as “Sportsman of the Century” and “Olympian of the Century”. He also acted in several movies after his athletics career.

2. Michael Philips

Michael Philips is an American former swimming champion. He has performed greatly in Olympic Games winning 28 medals. He is the winner of 8 gold medals in the Beijing Games in the year 2008. He got medals in each of the Olympic Games which made him one of the best athletes in Olympic Games history.

Michael Philips has achieved a total of 82 medals at the international levels. He has also received the titles of World Swimmer of the Year 8 times.

1. Ray Ewry

Ray Ewry is even considered today as one of the best Olympic athletes in history in track and field events. He was the winner of 8 gold medals in the Olympic Games and 2 gold medals at the Intercalated Games. Ray practiced in the high jump and triple jump from the small age. Later on, he got gold medals in many jumping events.

These Olympic athletes are the prestige of the nation and they will be remembered always in the hearts of billions of their fans.