Which Countries Have Won the Most Olympic Medals?

The modern Olympic Games, inspired by the ancient Olympic Games that were held in Greece, are international athletic competitions held every two years, alternating between the summer and winter seasons. World-class athletes train for years in hopes of winning a medal at these renowned competitions. But do you know the most decorated Olympian of every modern Olympic Games since 1896? The team at WizardPins looked at data from Olympedia, which is a statistical database that is updated by Olympics statisticians and historians, to determine the winningest Olympian at every summer and winter Olympic Games. Data from Olympedia is based on medal counts, with gold medals given the highest weight. Such achievements should be celebrated and commemorated with custom pins and engraved collectable coins!

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Who Has the Most Olympic Gold Medals?

The Olympian with the most gold medals is United States swimmer Michael Phelps. He has won 23 gold medals during his career and 28 medals overall, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. The first Olympic Games that Phelps competed in was the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when he was just 15 years old. This made him the youngest male to qualify for a U.S. Olympic swim team in 68 years.

Phelps won his first medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece. His first event was the 400-meter individual medley, for which he won a gold medal and set a new world record time of 4:08:26. But perhaps the most anticipated swimming event of these Olympic Games, referred to as “The Race of the Century,” was the 200-meter freestyle. Phelps earned a third-place finish behind Ian Thorpe (who was the winningest athlete of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games) and Pieter van den Hoogenband. The event featured four of the most impressive male swimmers of all time: Phelps, Thorpe, van den Hoogenband, and Grant Hackett.

Phelps continued to win medals and break records throughout his Olympic career. He also earned gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China; the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom; and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When he retired from swimming, he was (and remains) the athlete with the most Olympic medals of all time.

The next athlete on the list of most decorated Olympians is Larisa Latynina, a Soviet artistic gymnast who won 18 medals during her career. She is the most decorated female Olympian in history, winning nine gold medals, five silver medals, and four bronze medals. She competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia; the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy; and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. While she is not one of the Olympians on the list of winningest Olympians from each individual Olympic Games, she is nonetheless an Olympic legend.

Who Has the Most Olympic Medals in Each Olympic Games?

The following Olympic medal list outlines the winningest Olympians in each summer and winter Olympic Games (weighted by medal color):

Summer Olympics

Winter Olympics

Note: South Korean-born athlete Viktor An competed for South Korea until 2011, when he switched to competing for Russia.

The following Olympic Games were not held due to war: 

• 1916 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany
• 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland
• 1940 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
• 1944 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom
• 1944 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Commemorating Olympic Achievements with Custom Enamel Pins and Engraved Coins

If you want to feel like an Olympian, check out our enamel medals and die-struck medals! Custom pins and commemorative custom coins are powerful symbols to celebrate Olympic wins and can be used in various meaningful ways. Custom pins and engraved coins can feature the athlete's name, event, and the year of the Olympics, serving as a lasting reminder of their victory. These items can be personalized with national flags, Olympic rings, or the specific sport icon, making them cherished keepsakes. They can be given to the athletes, coaches, and teams as recognition of their hard work and dedication. It adds a personal touch and a sense of pride, especially when crafted to reflect their personal achievements. Fans can also collect commemorative custom enamel pins and coins that celebrate the success of their favorite athletes or teams. These items can be sold or distributed as part of a larger fan engagement strategy, fostering a sense of connection and pride in their nation's Olympic success. By integrating these symbols into Olympic celebrations, the sense of pride, achievement, and community is enhanced, allowing people to relive the glory of Olympic wins through tangible, collectible items.