If your goal is to dominate the Olympics with a cascade of gold medals, you might aim to be like Johannes Klaebo. This cross-country skiing superstar swept all six of his events at the 2026 Milan Games, culminating in a triumphant win in Saturday’s 50-kilometer mass start individual race.
Or, perhaps, consider becoming a swimmer.
Here’s a look at some of the most golden performances by athletes in modern Olympic history.
Eight Golds: Michael Phelps, 2008
Undoubtedly, the undisputed king of the Olympics is Michael Phelps.
His most iconic performance unfolded in 2008 in Beijing, where he secured an incredible eight swimming gold medals: a freestyle event, two medleys, two butterfly races, and three relays.
It certainly helps when your nation excels in your chosen sport. Had Phelps hailed from a country with less swimming prowess, like Myanmar or Ecuador, clinching those relay golds would have been a far greater challenge.
A perfect example is the nail-biting 4×100 freestyle relay, one of Phelps’s most unforgettable gold medal wins.
Phelps started the race, initially being out-touched by Australia’s Eamon Sullivan. However, by the final leg, France posed a significant threat to snatch the gold from the United States and Phelps.
It took a miraculous rally by Phelps’s teammate, Jason Lezak, to secure the gold by the narrowest of margins.
Seven Golds: Mark Spitz, 1972
The incredible standard Phelps ultimately surpassed was first established by Mark Spitz, who achieved an astounding seven-for-seven gold medal sweep in 1972.
More precisely, it was seven golds, seven races, and seven world records. Not only did he win every event he entered, but he also shattered all the existing world records in the process.
Similar to Phelps, Spitz’s captivating performances enthralled the American public, leading to numerous endorsement deals and widespread fame.
However, just days after his final race, the celebratory mood was tragically overshadowed by the kidnapping and subsequent death of 11 Israeli hostages during the Games.
Six Golds: Michael Phelps, 2004
Prior to Klaebo’s recent triumph, three other athletes had also achieved the remarkable feat of six Olympic gold medals in a single Games. And yes, one of them was Michael Phelps himself.
Even in 2004, there was widespread anticipation of him winning seven or even eight golds.
Competing in the same events he would later dominate in 2008, Phelps earned bronze in the 200 freestyle and the 4×100 freestyle relay. Nevertheless, he still clinched victories in the other six races.
Six Golds: Kristin Otto, 1988
Kristin Otto competed as part of East Germany’s final Olympic team before the country’s reunification with West Germany. Athletes from East Germany, particularly the women, frequently faced accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs.
While some athletes later admitted to doping, Otto herself was never implicated in any such scandals.
What remains undeniable is Otto’s incredible speed as a sprint specialist. Her remarkable versatility also shone through, as she secured gold medals across freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and various relay events.
Six Golds: Vitaly Scherbo, 1992
And finally, a non-swimmer on our list!
Vitaly Scherbo delivered a truly dominant performance in gymnastics at the Barcelona Games.
He secured gold in the horse, rings, parallel bars, and vault. Additionally, he triumphed in the individual all-around and the team event as a member of the “Unified Team,” which succeeded the Soviet Union. Scherbo himself was Belarusian.
If you’re curious why legendary female gymnasts like Nadia Comaneci don’t appear higher on this list, it’s worth noting they are restricted to four individual apparatus events, unlike men, who compete in six, as Scherbo did.
Six Golds: Johannes Klaebo, 2026
Klaebo has undeniably cemented his status as the greatest male cross-country skier of all time.
His fame is such that, nearly a decade ago, a notoriously challenging hill in South Korea was named ‘Klaebo bakken’ in his honor. This legendary slope humbled virtually every cross-country skier who dared to face it – unless, of course, their name was Klaebo.
His career boasts three golds from Pyeongchang, two from Beijing, and now an astonishing six more from Milan: victories in the skiathlon, sprint, individual race, mass start, and two different relays.
This brings his total to 11 Olympic golds, placing him second overall, albeit significantly behind Phelps’s staggering 28.