Rio Olympics 2016 are underway with all its glory and controversies, some already established name came back to make history and we take a look at most successful Olympians of all times. Olympics event takes place every four year and it is such an historic event made possible by some of the greatest athletes competing in number of sports discipline every four years. Today we take a look at some of the most successful athletes in the Olympics history. First of all we answer the question about the most successful Olympian of all times.
Michael Phelps – Most Decorated Olympian Of All Times:
American profession swimmer Michale Phelps has number of olympic record under his belt. With 18 gold medals he is by far the most decorated Olympian of all times having compete in three Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012). Michale Phelps won 6 gold medals and 2 bronze in 2004 Athens Olympic games in Greece. At that point Phelps was still a teenager but registered second best performance over a single Olympics.
Rio Olympics Update: Phelps went on to win 5 more gold medals at Rio Olympics taking his gold medal tally to 23 plus 3 silver and 2 bronze.
Michael Phelps went into the Beijing Olympics 2008 at the peak of his powers and stormed to 8 gold medals setting a new world record and breaking Mark Spitz 7 gold medals record. It was after the 2008 Olympics that people started to regard him as not only the greatest swimmer and Olympian of all times but also the greatest Athlete to have ever lived.
Michel Phelps won another 4 golds and 2 silver medals in 2012 summer olympics in London taking his total medals tally to 22 (18 golds, 2 silver, 2 bronze). That really set him apart in the list of most gold medal winners. In the process of winning 18 gold medals he has registered and broke many swimming record over the period of last three olympics. It will be hard for any athlete to come close what Phelps has achieved in his olympic career.
Now we take a look at top 20 athletes with most gold medals in Olympics history. Michael Phelps being first with 22 medals including 18 golds. Four other athletes has won 9 gold medals in olympics with Larisa Latynina (Russia), Paavo Nurmi (Finland), Mark Spitz (USA), Carl Lewis (USA).
| ATHLETE | SPORT | YEAR |  |
 |
 |
TOTAL | |
| 1 |  Michael Phelps |
Swimming | 2004-16 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 28 |
| 2 |  Larisa Latynina |
Gymnastics | 1956–64 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| 3 |  Paavo Nurmi |
Athletics | 1920–28 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| 4 |  Mark Spitz |
Swimming | 1968–72 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 5 | Carl Lewis |
Athletics | 1984–96 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 6 |  Usain Bolt |
Sprin | 2008-16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 |  Ole Bjørndalen |
Biathlon | 1998–2014 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 7 | Bjørn Dæhlie |
skiing | 1992–98 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 8 |  Birgit Fischer |
Canoeing | 1980–2004 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 |  Sawao Kato |
Gymnastics | 1968–76 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| 10 | Jenny Thompson |
Swimming | 1992–2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| 11 | Matt Biondi |
Swimming | 1984–92 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 12 | Ray Ewry |
Athletics | 1900–08 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 13 | Nikolai Andrianov |
Gymnastics | 1972–80 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 14 | Boris Shakhlin |
Gymnastics | 1956–64 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
| 15 |  Věra Čáslavská |
Gymnastics | 1960–68 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| 16 | Viktor Chukarin |
Gymnastics | 1952–56 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| 17 |  Aladár Gerevich |
Fencing | 1932–60 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 18 |  Edoardo Mangiarotti |
Fencing | 1936–60 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
| 19 | Marit Bjørgen |
skiing | 2002–14 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 |