50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
7. Larisa Latynina, Gymnastics.
Until a guy named Michael Phelps came along, Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina was the most decorated Summer Olympian of all time. Despite competing in only three Summer Games (in 1956, ’60, and ’64), Latynina captured 18 Olympic medals — four bronze, five silver, and an astounding nine gold.
At the 1956 Melbourne Games, Latynina earned six medals, taking home the gold in the team, the all-around, the vault, and the floor exercise, and adding silver in the uneven bars and bronze in the team.
Four years later in Rome, Latynina earned another six medals (three gold, two silver, one bronze). Then, during her final go-round in Tokyo, Latynina once again captured six medals (two gold, two bronze, two silver).
In so doing, she became one of just four Summer Olympic athletes with at least nine gold medals, a company that includes Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, and Mark Spitz. Only the No. 1 athlete on our list has earned more.
Next: 6. Ray Ewry.