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

2. Larisa Latynina – Soviet Union

Medal Count: 18 (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze)

Sport: Gymnastics

Games attended: 1956, 1960, 1964

When I said most decorated gymnast period, I meant it! Her debut came in 1956, around the same time as Boris Shakhlin. The Soviet Union was dominating everything during this time, and there were no signs of them letting up any time soon.

But during this time, women were also thought to be inferior to men, especially in sports. Latynina was an example for many others to follow to show the athletic prowess that women can display.

In the 1960 Olympics in Rome, she went on to take home six medals (three gold, two silver and one bronze).

Throughout her career as an Olympian, she racked up all of the medals without remorse, closing out with 18 at 26. That’s an age that would be considered ancient in modern day gymnastics, but regardless, she is the standard to meet.

But who can beat 18? Well, I teased him from the beginning, so it should be no surprise that the most decorated Olympian of all time is none other than …