Most all-time Olympic medalists

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps can move into a tie for second place on the all-time most Olympic medals list with a gold, silver or bronze in today’s 100-meter butterfly event at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. The top spot would remain out of reach for Phelps until the 2012 Olympics.

Comments

[Alex Fernandez]

Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer in the history of the Olympics. I've always thought, and I believe a lot of people think as I do, that the winner of the decathlon is the greatest Olympic athlete. Equating Phelp's 6 gold medals with "greatest Olympian" is absurd. By that reasoning, if there were six ping pong events, and one person were to win all six, he/she would be the "greatest" Olympian? No, Michael is awesome...swimming. He can't throw a hammer, toss a discus, hurl a javelin, etc...to win gold.