Michael Phelps

Swimming, United States. Phelps won 23 Olympic golds between 2004 and 2016, 13 in individual events and 10 in relays. His eight golds at Beijing in 2008 depended on both: the individual medley and butterfly titles were his alone, while the 4x100 metres freestyle relay was won only because team-mate Jason Lezak overhauled France on the final leg.