30 Olympic athletes who dominated their events

21. Aladár Gerevich

A Hungarian national treasure, Aladár Gerevich lived and breathed fencing, so much so that many of the important people in his life also took up the sport to great success and international acclaim. His wife, Erna Bogen, won a bronze medal in the women’s individual foil competition at the 1932 Los Angeles Games, his father-in-law Albert Bogen won a silver in the team sabre competition at the 1912 Stockholm Games, and his son Pal Gerevich won a pair of bronze medals in team sabre at the 1972 Munich and 1980 Moscow Games.

But among all his extended family of swordsmen and women, Aladár stood supreme. Owner of 10 Olympic medals (seven gold, one silver, and two bronze), Gerevich has been called “the greatest Olympic swordsman ever.” He is credited with popularizing the sport both worldwide and in Hungary itself, and remains to this day the only athlete to win the same event at six different Olympic Games (sabre team). That record may have even grown to eight if the Olympics hadn’t been cancelled in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II.

Gerevich also is co-owner of the record for longest amount of time elapsed between total gold medal wins: a span of 28 years from the 1932 and 1960 Summer Games. While he captured five golds during the interim, it’s still remarkable to consider Gerevich was 22 the first time he climbed atop an Olympic podium and 50 the last time he did it.

Next: 20. Ray Ewry