Top 7 Most Successful Olympians from the USA

The modern Olympic Games were first held in 1896 in Athens. Since then world beaters, record holders and multiple gold medallists have dominated the Games. The USA is one of the most successful nations in the Olympic Games.

The 2024 Olympics boosted all-time medal counts for multiple athletes. Here are the top U.S. Olympians of all time by gold medals according to .

Biondi won seven medals in swimming, including five golds, at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics. His five golds in 1988 came in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and all three medleys.

His tall frame and powerful stroke were distinctive, propelling him to victories and making him a standout star during a competitive era in swimming.

All of Thompson’s gold medals came in relay events. Her only individual medals came in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics (silver) and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics (bronze).

Dressel took home 2 gold medals and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. The swimmer previously won two golds at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, pacing the field in both the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay.

Dressel followed that performance by winning five more golds at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including the top prize in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.

No athlete had accomplished that feat since Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games.

Lewis’ golden victories in 1984 came in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and 4×100-meter relay. The latter was achieved in a world-record time of 37.83 seconds.

Spitz set multiple world records in the pool at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, including winning seven gold medals. Spitz clinched his seventh gold in the 400-meter medley relay.

Each of those victories also came with a world record with his achievements in Munich made him an international star and set a benchmark that stood until Phelps broke it in 2008.

The reigning queen of the pool, Ledecky earned her ninth gold medal in the 800m freestyle at the 2024 Olympics. With the victory, Ledecky became the winningest female Olympian of all time from the United States.

Ledecky burst onto the Olympic scene in 2012 at just 15 years old, winning gold in the 800m freestyle and her dominance extended through subsequent Olympics.

in the history of the Olympic Games. The swimmer won eight of his golds at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the most ever at a single games.

Phelps won nine more golds over the next two Olympics. His career totals 28 medals, with his gold haul including individual events across different styles, including butterfly, freestyle, and medley, demonstrating his versatility and enduring dominance in the pool.