List of famous Olympic gold medal winners from every event, with photos of the athletes when available. These historic Olympic gold medal winners are listed by popularity, so the most historic Olympians are at the top of the list. Olympic medalists who have won the gold medal are among an elite group, as many athletes who train their entire lives will never even qualify for the Olympics. The famous Olympic competitors on this list may have either competed in the Summer Olympics or Winter Olympics, but what they all have in common is that they each took home a gold medal.
The list you're viewing contains people like Michael Phelps and Kobe Bryant.
If you're trying to answer the questions, "Which Olympians have won a gold medal?" and "How many people have won an Olympic gold medal?" then this list has you covered.
This list includes notable gold medal winners from almost every Olympics. They didn't all get their own Wheaties boxes, but every person who has ever won a gold medal is impressive enough to be included in this list.1
Michael Phelps
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1985-06-30
Place Of Birth: Baltimore,United States of America,Maryland
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 100m butterfly,Men's 400m individual medley,Men's 4x100m medley relay,Men's 4x200m freestyle relay,Men's 200m Freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal
Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American retired competitive swimmer and the... more2
Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field... more3
Mark Spitz
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1950-02-10
Place Of Birth: Modesto,United States of America,California,Stanislaus County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 200m butterfly,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay,Men's 100m freestyle,Men's 200m Freestyle,Men's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 1972 Summer Olympics,1968 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1968 Summer Olympics,1972 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal,Silver medal
Mark Andrew Spitz (born February 10, 1950) is an American former competitive swimmer and... more4
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Track and field athleticsOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1962-03-03
Place Of Birth: East St. Louis,United States of America,Illinois,St. Clair County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's Long Jump,Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's heptathlon,Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's Long Jump,Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's heptathlon,Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Women's heptathlon
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Long jump,Women's Heptathlon
Olympic Medalist Games: 1996 Summer Olympics,1988 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1988 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee (born March 3, 1962) is an American retired track and field athlete,... more5
Clara Hughes
Speed skating, Road cyclingOlympic Country: Canada
Date Of Birth: 1972-09-27
Place Of Birth: Winnipeg,Canada,Manitoba,Winnipeg Capital Region, Manitoba
Nationality: Canada
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Speed Skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women’s 5000m,Speed Skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's 5000m,Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's team pursuit,Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's individual road race,Cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's road time trial
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 5000 m,Women's Road cycling, individual road race,Women's Road cycling, individual time trial
Olympic Medalist Games: 2002 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Clara Hughes, (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater who has won... more6
Jesse Owens
Track and field athleticsOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1913-09-12
Place Of Birth: Oakville,Alabama
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's 4x100 metre relay,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Long jump,Men's Athletics, 200m,Men's Athletics, 4x100m relay
Olympic Medalist Games: 1936 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1936 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and... more7
Ole Einar Bjørndalen
BiathlonOlympic Country: Norway
Date Of Birth: 1974-01-27
Place Of Birth: Drammen,Norway,Buskerud,Earth,Europe
Nationality: Norway
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's mass start,Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's relay,Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's pursuit,Biathlon at the 2002 Winter Olympics - Men's 4 x 7.5 km Relay,Biathlon at the 1998 Winter Olympics - Men's 4 x 7.5 km relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 15 km Mass Start,Men's 4x7.5 km Relay,Men's 12.5 km Pursuit,Men's 10 km Sprint,Men's 20 km Individual
Olympic Medalist Games: 2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2002 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,1994 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Ole Einar Bjørndalen (born 27 January 1974) is a retired Norwegian professional biathlete,... more8
Shawn Johnson
Artistic gymnasticsOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1992-01-19
Place Of Birth: West Des Moines,United States of America,Iowa,Dallas County,Polk County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's artistic team all-around,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Floor,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Balance Beam,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Gymnastics, team competition,Women's Floor exercises,Women's Balance Beam,Women's Gymnastics
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal
Shawn Machel Johnson East (born January 19, 1992) is an American former artistic gymnast. She... more9
Angela Ruggiero
Ice HockeyOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1980-01-03
Place Of Birth: Panorama City,Los Angeles,California,Los Angeles County,Greater Los Angeles Area
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women’s Team,Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics – Women’s Team,Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women’s Team,Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Ice Hockey
Olympic Medalist Games: 2002 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1998 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Angela Marie Ruggiero (born January 3, 1980) is an American former ice hockey defenseman. She... more10
Matt Biondi
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1965-10-08
Place Of Birth: Palo Alto,United States of America,California,Santa Clara County,San Francisco Bay Area
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 50 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics - men's 4 x 100 metre Freestyle,Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 50m freestyle,Men's 100m freestyle,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay,Men's 4x200m freestyle relay,Men's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1984 Summer Olympics,1988 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal,Bronze medal
Matthew Nicholas Biondi (born October 8, 1965) is an American former competition swimmer,... more11
Halvard Hanevold
BiathlonOlympic Country: Norway
Date Of Birth: 1969-12-03
Place Of Birth: Askim,Norway,Østfold,Earth,Europe
Nationality: Norway
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's relay,Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's 10km Sprint,Biathlon at the 1998 Winter Olympics - Men's 20 km Individual,Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's 20km Individual,Biathlon at the 2002 Winter Olympics - Men's 4 x 7.5 km Relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 4x7.5 km Relay,Men's 10 km Sprint,Men's 20 km Individual
Olympic Medalist Games: 2010 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1998 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal,Bronze medal
Halvard Hanevold (born 3 December 1969) is a former Norwegian biathlete.... more12
Paavo Johannes Nurmi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈpɑːʋo ˈnurmi] (listen); 13 June 1897 – 2... more13
Armin Zöggeler
LugeOlympic Country: Italy
Date Of Birth: 1974-01-04
Place Of Birth: Merano,Italy,South Tyrol,Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol,Province of Bolzano-Bozen
Nationality: Italy
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Luge at the 1994 Winter Olympics - Men's Singles,Luge at the 1998 Winter Olympics - Men's Singles,Luge at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's Singles,Luge at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's singles,Luge at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's singles
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Singles
Olympic Medalist Games: 1994 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,1998 Winter Olympics,1994 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Silver medal,Gold medal
Armin Zöggeler OMRI (born 4 January 1974) is a retired Italian luger and double Olympic... more14
Natalie Coughlin
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1982-08-23
Place Of Birth: Emeryville,United States of America,Alameda County,California,San Francisco Bay Area
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre backstroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 4x200m freestyle relay,Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 100m backstroke,Women's 200m individual medley
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Bronze medal,Gold medal
Natalie Anne Coughlin Hall (born August 23, 1982) is an American competition swimmer and... more15
Apolo Ohno
Short track speed skatingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1982-05-22
Place Of Birth: Federal Way,Washington,King County,United States of America,United States
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Short track speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay,Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres,Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay,Short Track Speed Skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000m,Short Track Speed Skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 500m
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 1000m,Men's 5000m Relay,Men's 500m,Men's 1500 m
Olympic Medalist Games: 2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Apolo Anton Ohno (; born May 22, 1982) is an American retired short track speed skating... more16
Jason Lezak
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1975-11-12
Place Of Birth: Irvine,United States of America,California,Orange County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 4x100 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 4x100m medley relay,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay,Men's 100m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal,Silver medal
Jason Edward Lezak (born November 12, 1975) is an American former competition swimmer and a... more17
Anja Pärson
Alpine skiingOlympic Country: Sweden
Date Of Birth: 1981-04-25
Place Of Birth: Umeå,Västerbotten County,Västerbotten,Umeå Municipality,Sweden
Nationality: Sweden
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's Super Combined,Alpine skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's Slalom,Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's slalom,Alpine skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's Downhill,Alpine skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's Combined
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Super Combined,Women's Slalom,Women's Downhill,Women's Combined,Women's Giant Slalom
Olympic Medalist Games: 2010 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Anja Sofia Tess Pärson (Swedish pronunciation: [²anːja ˈpæːʂɔn]; born 25 April 1981) is a... more18
Dmitri Ivanovich Sautin (Russian: Дмитрий Иванович Саутин; born 15 March 1974) is a Russian... more19
Gregory Efthimios Louganis (;born January 29, 1960) is an American Olympic diver, LGBT... more20
Dara Torres
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1967-04-15
Place Of Birth: Jupiter,United States of America,Florida,Palm Beach County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre butterfly
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x200m freestyle relay,Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 50m freestyle,Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1992 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,1988 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Bronze medal,Gold medal
Dara Grace Torres (born April 15, 1967) is an American former competitive swimmer, who is a... more21
LeBron James
BasketballOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1984-12-30
Place Of Birth: Akron,United States of America,Ohio,Summit County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's basketball,Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's basketball
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal
LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball... more22
Amanda Beard
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1981-10-29
Place Of Birth: Newport Beach,United States of America,California,Orange County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre Individual Medley,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 200m breaststroke,Women's 200m individual medley,Women's 100m breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Games: 1996 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Amanda Ray Beard (born October 29, 1981), also known by her married name Amanda Brown, is an... more23
Jenny Thompson
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1973-02-26
Place Of Birth: Dover,United States of America,New Hampshire,Strafford County,Seacoast Region
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 100m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Jennifer Beth Thompson (born February 26, 1973) is an American former competition swimmer and... more24
Cathy Freeman
Track and field athleticsOlympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1973-02-16
Place Of Birth: Mackay,Australia,Queensland,Earth,Oceania
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres,Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 400 metres
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Athletics, 400m
Olympic Medalist Games: 2000 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1996 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal
Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman, (born 16 February 1973) is an Australian former sprinter,... more25
Klete Keller
SwimmingOlympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1982-03-21
Place Of Birth: Phoenix,United States of America,Arizona,Maricopa County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 4x200m freestyle relay,Men's 400m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal,Silver medal
Klete D. Keller (born March 21, 1982) is an American former competition swimmer who won medals... more
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