Medal Count: Which summer Olympians have the most medals of all time?

8. Paavo Nurmi – Finland

Medal count: 12 (9 gold, 3 silver)

Sport: Distance running

Games attended: 1920, 1924, 1928

Nicknamed the “Flying Finn,” Paavo Nurmi was no joke when it came to long distance. His debut came in the 1920 Olympics, where he won three gold medals in the 10,000 meter, cross country race and cross country team race.

In 1924, injury plagued him, but it was a small setback for a major comeback. Nurmi would go on to set an Olympic record in the 1,500 meter race before setting another in the 5,000 meter less than an hour later according to AP News.

His successes spanned until his final Olympic appearances in 1928, where he gained medals in the 10,000 meter and 5,000 meter. He also took the silver in steeplechase. However, he wouldn’t realize that this was his last olympic appearance.

But by this point, his success became so widespread that he was no longer considered an amateur by the IAAF, causing him to miss out on the 1932 Olympics. He closed out with nine gold medals, and three silver. He, like Fischer, never saw a bronze medal.