Top Olympic Medalists: Most Decorated Countries and Athletes in History
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games will feature approximately 2,900 athletes competing across 116 events. These athletes aspire to earn medals—gold, silver, and bronze—among a highly competitive field.
Top Countries in Olympic History
Analyzing past performances sheds light on which nations excel in the Olympics, both Summer and Winter. At the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022, Norway topped the medal count with 37 awards, including 16 gold. It was followed closely by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Germany, Canada, and the United States.
In the 2024 Summer Games held in Paris, the United States emerged with a record of 126 medals, 40 of which were gold. China, Great Britain, and France also performed well during these games.
Overall Medal Counts
According to data from the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, the United States holds the record for the most Olympic medals, boasting a total of 3,103 medals. The Soviet Union ranks second with 1,204 medals. Germany follows closely with a count of 1,091 medals, although historical representation has caused some discrepancies due to its complicated Olympic history.
| Country | Total Medals |
|---|---|
| United States | 3,103 |
| Soviet Union | 1,204 |
| Germany | 1,091 |
Winter Olympics Performance
In terms of Winter Olympic performance, Norway leads with 404 total medals, while the United States has amassed 330 and Germany 286.
Most Olympic Gold Medals
The United States also leads in gold medals overall, with 1,220 to its name. The Soviet Union follows with 473 gold medals, and Germany has 355 gold medals. Additionally, several countries, including Great Britain, France, Italy, China, Sweden, and Norway, have each secured over 200 gold medals.
Top Athletes in Olympic History
American swimmer Michael Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals, an impressive total of 28—23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze—achieved over five Olympic Games. Among female athletes, Larisa Latynina from the Soviet Union has won 18 medals: 9 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze.
Notably, Norwegian skier Marit Bjørgen became the most decorated winter Olympian during the PyeongChang 2018 Games, amassing a total of 15 medals, including eight golds. Ole Einar Bjørndalen, also from Norway, is recognized as the most successful male winter Olympian, garnering 14 medals.
- Michael Phelps: 28 total medals (23 gold)
- Larisa Latynina: 18 total medals (9 gold)
- Marit Bjørgen: 15 total medals (8 gold)
- Ole Einar Bjørndalen: 14 total medals
- Apolo Anton Ohno: 8 total medals
The upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games promise to be an exciting event where athletes and nations vie for glory, aiming to add to their medal counts and solidify their place in Olympic history.
