Record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps with a (small) part of his medal collection
Image: Keystone
The most successful female Olympian in history with 18 medals from 1956 to 1964: Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina
Image: Keystone
Finland's wonder runner Paavo Nurmi won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1920s
Image: Keystone
Unbeatable lightning: Jamaica's miracle sprinter won nine Olympic medals - all of them gold
Image: Keystone
The most successful Swiss Olympian in history with four gold, three silver and one bronze: Zurich gymnast Georges Miez
Image: Keystone
Record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps with a (small) part of his medal collection
Image: Keystone
The most successful female Olympian in history with 18 medals from 1956 to 1964: Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina
Image: Keystone
Finland's wonder runner Paavo Nurmi won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1920s
Image: Keystone
Unbeatable lightning: Jamaica's miracle sprinter won nine Olympic medals - all of them gold
Image: Keystone
The most successful Swiss Olympian in history with four gold, three silver and one bronze: Zurich gymnast Georges Miez
Image: Keystone
Michael Phelps will probably remain at the top of the list of the most successful Olympians of modern times for a very long time to come. The American wonder swimmer has 23 gold medals to his name.
Michael Phelps won a total of 28 medals at the Summer Olympics from 2004 to 2016: 23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. The 39-year-old from Baltimore won 16 Olympic titles in individual races.
There is a huge gap behind Phelps. The next best in the list of the most successful Olympic participants is the Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won nine gold, five silver and four bronze medals for the Soviet Union between 1956 and 1964.
Usain Bolt's record is special. The Jamaican super sprinter won eight Olympic medals, all of them gold. And without a doping offense by his relay colleague Nesta Carter, he would have won nine.
The best Swiss athlete is Georges Miez. The artistic gymnast from Winterthur won four gold, three silver and one bronze medal between 1928 and 1936.
The most successful participants at the Summer Olympics:
Ferner:
