Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps holds the record for the most golds won at a single Olympics with the eight he won at the 2008 Olympic Games, surpassing fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz's previous record of seven set at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

In an article published in the wake of the event, the New York Times said that, as he prepared to go for his eighth gold, had Michael Phelps been a country, "the Person's Republic of Michael would have ranked fourth in gold medals after China, the United States, and Germany and been ahead of all but 14 countries in the medal count." Only Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina holds more total career Olympic medals with 18 (nine gold), compared to Phelps's 16 (14 gold).

Related: Phelps's epic eighth gold wraps up pool competition