50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
19. Natalie Coughlin, Swimming.
One of the most decorated swimmers in U.S. history, the still-active Natalie Coughlin has tallied a whopping 12 Olympic medals (three gold, four silver, and five bronze), tying Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most medals ever won by a US female athlete.
Coughlin’s stroke of dominance is the backstroke, having won gold in the 100m in both the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games. Her third gold, meanwhile, came as a part of the 4×200 m freestyle relay in Athens.
Coughlin’s four silvers came in the relay, highlighted by runner-up finishes in the 4×100 m freestyle and 4×100 m medley in both the 2004 and 2008 Games.
Coughlin also earned a bronze in Athens (100m freestyle), in addition to three in Beijing (100 m freestyle, 200 m medley, and 4×200 m freestyle). Four years later, in London, Coughlin captured her 12th Olympic medal by winning the bronze in the 4×100 m freestyle relay.
Next: 18. Jenny Thompson.