3. Mark Spitz, Swimming; 1968, 1972: 11 medals (nine gold, one silver, one bronze)—After predicting six golds at the Mexico City Games in ‘68 and coming home with two relay golds, Spitz came back with a vengeance the next time around. The Californian entered seven races in ’72 and won them all while setting world records in each of them. His overall performance of seven golds in one Olympics was a record that stood for 36 years.
2. Carl Lewis, Track and Field; 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996: 10 medals (nine gold, one silver)—The versatile (and clutch) Lewis won gold in four consecutive Olympics in the long jump, tying an Olympic record. The speedster also won gold in back-to-back 100-meter sprints. He was at his most dominant in ‘84 though, equaling Jesse Ownens’ track and field record of four golds by winning the 100-meter, 200-meter, long jump, and the 4x100-meter relay.
1. Michael Phelps, Swimming; 2004, 2008, 2012: 17 medals (14 gold, one silver, one bronze)—Phelps’ unprecedented eight-gold achievement alone in Beijing in 2008 is enough, by itself, to put him near the top of any top-Olympian list. It almost makes one forget his performance in Athens in 2004 when he took home six golds and a pair of bronze medals while chasing Spitz.
