America’s Greatest: Top Gold Medal Champions of the Summer Olympics

Michael Phelps may never be caught, but swimming phenom Katie Ledecky could overtake other Olympians in the rankings with a few wins in Paris.

PARIS, France — The Summer Olympics are underway as thousands of athletes prepare to go for gold in Paris.

The United States leads the world by far in most gold medals won in history, but a select few athletes who were — or still are — superstars in their sport carry a few more than most.

Some of these current record-holders are competing in Paris this year and could increase their medal count.

Here are the Americans who have won the most gold medals of any U.S. Olympians.

Michael Phelps: 23 gold medals

The world’s most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps, dominated the swimming world until his retirement in 2016.

Phelps qualified for his first Olympics in 2000 at age 15. By 2004, he was tying world records, winning eight medals at a single Games with six gold and two bronze. In 2008, he won his most medals yet, taking home eight golds and breaking another Olympic record. Phelps continued to rack up gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for a total of 23.

Mark Spitz: 9 gold medals

Swimmer Mark Spitz kicked off his Olympic career with two team golds in 1968. Four years later, he was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Munich Games, winning seven gold medals in swimming, a record that held until Michael Phelps overtook it in 2008.

Carl Lewis: 9 gold medals

Carl Lewis, a track and field superstar, is one of only a handful of Olympians to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympic Games. The sprinter and long jumper won four golds at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, two in Seoul in 1988, and two at the 1992 Barcelona Games. His final gold medal win was in the long jump at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Jenny Thompson: 8 gold medals

Jenny Thompson has won the most gold medals of any American woman. The swimmer competed in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics, earning all eight of her gold medals in relay events. With 12 total medals across four Olympic Games, she has more swimming medals than any other female Olympian.

Matt Biondi: 8 gold medals

Swimmer Matt Biondi took home five gold medals at the Seoul Games in 1988, setting multiple world records in the process. Biondi competed in the Summer Games in 1984, 1988, and 1992.

Ray Ewry: 8 gold medals

Ray Ewry overcame polio as a boy to become a dominant track and field jumper, setting records in the standing jumps that held for decades. He won three gold medals at the 1900 Paris Games, three gold medals at the 1904 London Games, and two gold medals at the 1908 St. Louis Games.

Allyson Felix: 7 gold medals

Runner Allyson Felix is the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, with seven gold medals and 11 total from five consecutive Summer Games. Felix achieved six relay wins in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, and one individual gold in 2012. She was the first female track and field athlete ever to win seven Olympic gold medals.

Katie Ledecky: 7 gold medals

A powerhouse in the pool, Katie Ledecky won a gold medal at 15 years old in her Olympic debut at the London Games in 2012. Known for smashing world records and often beating her competitors by huge margins, the 27-year-old American heads to Paris looking to add to her six individual Olympic gold medals. If Ledecky wins two gold medals in Paris, she’ll pass Jenny Thompson’s record. With a third gold medal win, she’ll surpass former Soviet Union gymnast Larisa Latynina to have the most gold medals of any woman in Olympic history.

Caeleb Dressel: 7 gold medals

The 27-year-old American was a standout at the Tokyo Olympics, capturing five gold medals. Burnout led him to walk away from the sport in the middle of the 2022 world championships. After an extended break, he failed to qualify for the 2023 worlds. Dressel remains the sport’s most intriguing figure heading into the Paris Olympics.