The Olympics are one of the oldest sports tournaments to test the athleticism, skill and vigor of qualifying athletes across the globe. As more countries enter the Olympics for different events with every cycle, each will look to a representative to bring home the gold for their nation.

Of all the participants who shed blood and sweat to bring home a medal to their country, only the greatest came out as a champion. To give them the recognition they deserve, we highlight three of the most decorated Olympians of all time, what events they competed in and how many medals they won.

Olympians with the Most Medals

Paavo Nurmi – Runner – 13 Medals, 10 Gold, 3 Silver

Born way back in 1897, the Finnish Olympic runner Paavo Nurmi had a dream of competing in the Olympics. That dream first came true in the 1920 Summer Olympics, where Nurmi would win silver in his first race ever before winning three gold medals in the 10,000m, cross-country and cross-country team races in the same Olympics.

By 1928, Paavo had won 10 gold medals, three coming from the 1920 Olympics, five from the 1924 Olympics, and his last from the 1928 Olympics. Some of these gold victories include winning the 1500m, the 5000m, the individual cross-country, the team cross-country and the 3000m team races during the 1924 Paris games, where his final gold would be for the 10,000m in 1928 Amsterdam.

Collecting 13 medals is impressive, but having 10 gold puts Paavo Nurmi up for discussion as one of the most decorated Olympians ever.

Larisa Latynina – Gymnast – 18 Medals, 9 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze

The 1934 Soviet-born gymnast would start making her mark as one of the most decorated Olympians ever at 21. Competing at such a young age might be troublesome for many, but it was all about adding silverware and glory to the tally for Larisa. Her first debut at the 1956 Olympics started with a bang, where she took home gold in four separate events: Team, All-around, Vault and Floor exercise.

Then, in the 1960 Rome games, Latynina went for a repeat of the same medals, winning three gold, this time only receiving silver for the Vault event. By the end of the 1964 Olympics, Larisa Latynina had accumulated 18 total medals from just three separate Olympic Games, meaning she’d win an unsurmountable six medals per Olympics, three of them gold.

Out of all gymnasts and most certainly all Olympic athletes, Larisa Latynina earned her spot on the list of most decorated Olympians of all time, with stats that will be hard to beat for years to come.

Michael Phelps – Swimmer – 28 Medals, 23 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze

No one comes close to the legendary Michael Phelps for Olympic-earned silverware. The 23-time gold medalist has made sure no one will come close to his legacy, and when you think of the word “Olympian” you think of Michael Phelps. Not only would Phelps earn a whopping 28 medals throughout his career, but he’d set multiple world records for different stroke-based swimming events.

His 2001 debut at 15 years old was one to remember, where he’d set the 200m butterfly world record and take home gold, setting off a string of victories in the actual Olympic Games. From 2004 to the end of 2008, Phelps would win 14 gold medals, more than Paavo Nurmi received overall, most of them for 4×100 meter relays, 100m and 200m freestyles and 100m and 200m butterflies. The 2012 London Games would be where Phelps earned his first two silver medals with four more golds in the 4x200m Freestyle relay, 4x100m Medley relay, 200m individual Medley and 100m butterfly.

Finishing his current tally in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Phelps would add five more golds and one silver to his collection before retiring as the best swimmer and one of the most decorated Olympians of all time.