The title of the most-decorated athlete ever belongs to United States swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 28 medals competing in five different Summer Olympics from 2000 to 2016.
But there are so many highly decorated female Olympians, too.
Recommended Videos
In honor of Tuesday being International Women’s Day, and both the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics taking place within the past year, we rounded up a list of the female athletes who have won the most medals at the Games.
All of the women below have won at least 10.
Larisa Latynina (Soviet Union, 18 medals)
An artistic gymnast, Latynina won 14 individual medals and four team medals from 1956 to 1964, nine of them being gold. Her total was the medal record for any gender until Phelps came along.
Marit Bjorgen (Norway, 15 medals)
A winter Olympian, Bjorgen is a cross-country skier who won eight gold medals, four silver medals and three bronze medals in the span of five Olympic Games, from 2002-2018.
Ireen Wust (Netherlands, 13 medals)
The Dutch are known for speed skating, and Wust is the best female of all in that country, earning six gold medals, five silver medals and two bronze medals in five Olympics from 2006 to 2022.
Birgit Fischer (East Germany/Germany, 12 medals)
From 1980-2004, Fischer won eight gold medals and four silver medals in canoeing.
Jenny Thompson (United States, 12 medals)
A swimmer, Thompson, in a span of four Olympics, from 1992 to 2004, won eight gold medals, three silver medals and a bronze medal.
Isabell Werth (Germany, 12 medals)
In equestrian, Werth won seven gold medals and five silver medals, from 1992 to 2020.
Dara Torres (United States, 12 medals)
A swimmer who first competed at the Olympics in 1984, Torres won four gold medals, four silver medals and four bronze medals in a scattered but lengthy career of competing at the Olympics. Torres was an Olympian in 1984, 1988 and 1992, then came back from retirement to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. After retiring a second time, Torres came back to compete in the 2008 Beijing Games at the age of 41.
Natalie Coughlin (United States, 12 medals)
Another U.S. swimmer who earned 12 medals, Coughlin captured three gold medals, four silver medals and five bronze medals competing in three Olympics from 2004 to 2012.
Allyson Felix (United States, 11 medals)
Felix made history in Tokyo last summer, becoming the most decorated U.S. track and field athlete — male or female — by winning her 11th medal. She surpassed legendary track athlete Carl Lewis for most medals won by an American track and field athlete.
Vera Caslavska (Czechoslovakia, 11 medals)
In three Summer Olympics, from 1960 to 1968, the gymnast won seven gold medals and four silver medals.
Arianna Fontana (Italy, 11 medals)
Fontana added to her medal total last month in Beijing in what was her fifth Olympics in short track speed skating, winning her second gold medal in the 500 meters. In addition to her two gold medals, she has won four silver and five bronze medals.
Emma McKeon (Australia, 11 medals)
In just two Olympic appearances in 2016 and 2020, McKeon has already collected five gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals in swimming for Australia.
Katie Ledecky (United States, 10 medals)
Ledecky has already established herself as one of the best U.S. female swimmers ever with seven gold medals and three silver medals won over the past three Olympics. She might have a chance to add to her total in Paris in 2024.
Allison Schmitt (United States, 10 medals)
Schmitt added her name to this list in Tokyo after competing at her fourth Olympics in swimming. She was a part of relay teams that won a silver medal and a bronze medal. In total, Schmitt has won four gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals.
Agnes Keleti (Hungary, 10 medals)
The gymnast won five gold medals -- three silver medals and two bronze medals -- at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics.
Polina Astakhova (Soviet Union, 10 medals)
Over the span of three Olympics from 1956 to 1964, the gymnast won five gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze.
Raisa Smetanina (Soviet Union/Unified Team, 10 medals)
The cross-country skier won four gold medals, five silver medals and a bronze medals at five Winter Olympics that spanned from 1976 to 1992.
Stefania Belmondo (Italy, 10 medals)
Belmondo participated in four Winter Olympics from 1992 to 2002, winning two gold medals, three silver medals and five bronze medals.
Franziska van Almsick (Germany, 10 medals)
The swimmer won four silver medals and six bronze medals, competing in four different Summer Olympics from 1992 to 2004.