The best athlete is a subjective question and therefore cannot be answered. The reason for this is no two athletic events are the same (in the swimming events the answer would be easier as many top swimmers take part in many different events) - it is impossible to compare a 100m sprinter to someone that walks 50km or to a pole vaulter? However a decathlete who takes part in 10 different events (many to world class standard) over 2 days could be described as the best "all round athlete".
Through the 2008 Games in Beijing:
Total Medals: 18 (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) by gymnast Larissa Latynina of the USSR.
Total Gold Medals: 14 by swimmer Michael Phelps of the US.
The man that wins the decathlon and the woman that wins the heptathlon.
This is a very broad question but many agree that he answer is Jim Thorpe.
Ben Keener
dan gable
george k
Sally pearson does the 100m hurdles and the 100m sprint
1896, the first modern Olympics.
Lindy Remigino won the gold metal for the United States for the 100m in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
usan bolt
usain bolt
Usain Bolt won the 100m final at Beijing
1908 100m Men Reggie Walker GOLD SAF 10.8
50m, 100m, 200m
up my bum
Usain Bolt
Carl Lewis.