Medal count: Which American Olympians have the most medals all time?

9. Carl Lewis

Medal count: 10 (9 gold, 1 silver)

Sport: Track and Field

Games attended: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996

Carl Lewis is the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time and one of just three athletes in Olympic history to win the same individual event in four straight Games (the long jump from 1984 to 1996). Remarkably, nine of Lewis’ 10 Olympic medals are of the golden variety.

In addition to dominating in the long jump, the Birmingham native also excelled in the 100 and 200 m sprints and was a member of two gold-medal-winning American 4×100 m relay teams.

Throughout his storied career, Lewis ran 15 sub-10 second 100 m races and jumped over 28 feet 71 times. He went undefeated in the long jump for over 10 years, winning 65 consecutive events.

Lewis’ lengthy list of accomplishments led to being named Sportsman of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. Today, he is an assistant track and field coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston. More than 37 years after he long jumped 8.79 m, Lewis’ indoor world record still stands.