50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
33. Elisabeta Lipa, Rowing.
Romanian rower Elisabeta Lipa is easily the most decorated Olympic athlete in her respective sport, medaling eight times over the course of six different Olympiads from the 1984 to 2004.
Lipa won five gold in five different Summer Games: Double sculls in 1984; single sculls in 1992; eights in 1998; eights in 1996; and eights in 2000. She also won silver twice (double sculls in both the 1988 and 1992 Games) and bronze once (quadruple sculls in 1988).
Lipa was the first female rower to compete in six different Olympic Games, a feat only four other rowers have ever accomplished. and only four other rowers have accomplished that feat.
Rarely do rowers succeed in both sculls (two oars) and sweeps (one oars), but Lipa was able to win at a high level doing both for a very long time. She now serves in the Romanian government as the country’s Minister of Youth and Sport.
Next: 32. Gary Hall, Jr.