As of the time of answering this in December 2014, the top 5 are:
He broke Mark Spitz record of 7 gold medals.
As of the 2008 Games in Beijing, Michael Phelps holds the current record, winning 14 gold medals in the combined games of the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. He holds the record for the most gold medals (8) won at a single Olympics.
This was India's most successful Olympics based on the medal standings, winning a total of 6 medals (2 silver and 4 bronze), and doubling the nation's overall record in Beijing. India was among the countries that did not win a Gold Medal and 54 nations did win at least one gold medal. 33 countries won more than 6 total medals. North Korea, South Africa, & Croatia also won 6 total medals, but they alkso won at least 3 Gold Medals
Michael Phelps of USA (For swimming).
Prior to 2010, Bonnie Blair had 6 Olympic gold medals. Apolo Ohno broke that record by winning 8 total medals.
China!
america
He broke Mark Spitz record of 7 gold medals.
Michael Phelps
Winning the most gold medals in the olympics. That is, until Michael Phelps came along and beat his record.
PCH=A world record holder?
winning 7 gold medals in 1 olympic games by mark spitz
Eric Heiden's record for the most medals won in a single Olympic Games was broken by Norwegian cross-country skier Bjørn Dæhlie. Heiden achieved his record by winning five gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Dæhlie surpassed this feat by winning eight medals, including seven golds, over the course of the 1994 Lillehammer and 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Micheal phelps with 8 golds in 2008 and 6 golds ad 2 bronze in 2004
As of the 2008 Games in Beijing, Michael Phelps holds the current record, winning 14 gold medals in the combined games of the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. He holds the record for the most gold medals (8) won at a single Olympics.
The ladies' single (figure skating) world record was the the most significant record broken at the 2010 Olympic games. Kim Yuna of South Korea broken the then world record in the short program, free skate, and total.
Michael Phelps, was trying to break the record of winning the most gold medals in Olympic (the record was seven) and he broke it by winning eight gold medals in one Olympic.