Michael Phelps (8).
Michael Phelps of the US has the most olympic gold medals (14 total in 2004 and 2008) and the most medals by a male athlete (16 including his 2 bronze medals).
Michael Phelps (22 medals).
Currently Michael Phelps holds the world record for the most Olympic medals won at 22 medals.
Michael Phelps the SWIMMER
The most successful and decorated Olympic athlete as of 2014 is Michael Phelps. He has 22 Olympic medals with 18 being gold medals.
Micheal Phelps
Prior to the start of the 2012 games, the most total medals won by a single athlete is 18 by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latyninawho competed in 1956, 1960, and 1964.The most held by a male athlete is 16 by Michael Phelpsof the US, who has 14 gold and 2 bronze. The 14 gold (2004 and 2008) are also the most by any Olympic athlete. 10 of his medals are in individual events and 6 in team competition.The male athlete with the most individual medals is Soviet gymnast Nicolai Andrianov with 12 medals, including 6 gold, between 1972 and 1980.
Larissa Latynina (USSR) has won the most number of medals in the Olympic Games with an incredible tally of 18 medals (9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze).Micheal Phelps (USA) has won the most medals by a male athlete with 16 (14 gold and 2 silver) and he has won the most Olympic Gold Medals with 14.
Bjørn Dæhlie
The record for the most Olympic medals is held by Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina. Competing in three Olympics, between 1956 and 1964, she won 18 medals.
That would be swimmer Michael Phelps of the United States who has won 14 gold medals ... 6 at the 2004 Games and 8 at the 2008 Games.
USA won the most medals at the 2004 Olympic Games with a total of 102 medals (36 gold, 39 silver and 27 bronze).The most successful athlete was Michael Phelps (USA) with eight medals, six gold (100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x200m freestyle, and 4x100m medley) and two bronze medals (200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle).