Swimming - Olympics: Day 6 — Michael Phelps has 23 Olympic gold medals (Source: Getty Images)

5 most decorated male Olympic swimmers of all time ft. Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel

Modified Jul 14, 2024 17:22 GMT

From Mark Spitz to Michael Phelps and now Caeleb Dressel, the USA has dominated the sport, leaving no room at all for other nations.

With a few exceptions like the Los Angeles edition of 1932, USA has topped the table when it comes to swimming every single time. Overall, USA has won a staggering 580 Olympic medals in swimming, 257 of them being gold.

One can imagine how strong the USA is when among the 10 most decorated Olympic male swimmers of all time, there is just one non-American: Ian Thorpe of Australia!

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#5 Ryan Lochte [2004 - 2016]

Ryan Lochte, one of the most decorated swimmers of all time [Image Sources: Getty]

The then-20-year-old swimmer from Rochester, New York, who was studying at the University of Florida, had finished 2nd to Michael Phelps in the 200 m individual medley. Ryan Lochte had also qualified for the 4 x 200 m freestyle relay. While he led the American team to a historic gold in the relay, Lochte finished 2nd to Michael Phelps in the medley race.

He won five more gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals from the Beijing Olympics 2008 to the Rio Olympics 2016. While Lochte specialized in backstroke and medley, he also experimented successfully with freestyle and butterfly races.

With 12 Olympic medals and 27 World Championship medals, Ryan Lochte stands 5th overall in terms of the most decorated of all swimmers.

#4 Caeleb Dressel [2016 - Present]

Caeleb Dressel at Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

This 27-year-old might be fourth in terms of ranking, but he can soon match Michael Phelps in terms of Olympic supremacy. Caeleb Dressel has competed in seven Olympic races from Rio Olympics 2016 to Tokyo Olympics 2020. He has won each and every one of those races, something not even the likes of Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps could manage to achieve throughout their Olympic career.

In Tokyo 2020, Caeleb won all the five events he participated in, becoming only the fifth swimmer from USA to win at least five Olympic gold medals in a single event.

All Caeleb Dressel needs to do at Paris Olympics is win a minimum of three out of four possible races, and he will become the most successful male swimmer of all time after Michael Phelps.

#3 Matt Biondi [1984 - 1992]

Matt Biondi celebrating with his team at Seoul Olympics 1988 [Image Source: Getty]

Before Michael Phelps was even born, one man had almost challenged the legacy established by Mark Spitz.

At Los Angeles 1984, Matt Biondi took part in the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay. He led the team to the gold medal, and didn't look back.

At Seoul Olympics 1988, Matt Biondi almost equaled Mark Spitz's record established at Munich 1972. The only difference was that while Mark won all the seven events he participated in, Matt Biondi won five of them. Apart from that, Biondi won a silver medal in 100 m butterfly, and a bronze medal in 200 m freestyle.

Matt Biondi won a total of 11 medals, including two gold medals and one silver medal from Barcelona Olympics 1992, before he quit swimming for good.

#2 Mark Spitz [1968 - 1972]

Mark Spitz : The original trendsetter [Image Source: Getty]

Before the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, an 18-year-old American swimmer had boldly claimed that he would win six Olympic gold medals. However, he managed to win just four medals overall, and the Olympic gold medals he won were as a part of the relay team.

The swimmer from California became a laughingstock for many. However, he was determined to prove himself. Four years later, he got an opportunity at Munich, and this time, Mark Spitz did not disappoint.

He won all the seven gold medals he had contested, earning a new nickname, 'Mark the Shark'! Mark's record stood for a good 36 years, until a new challenger emerged from Baltimore, whose name was Michael Phelps.

#1 Michael Phelps [2000 - 2016]

Michael Phelps greeting his fans [Image Source: Getty]

At the Sydney Olympics, a 15-year-old swimmer from Baltimore, Maryland decided to test his luck against the best. Though he couldn't beat the ultimate champion, Ian Thorpe, the young swimmer had gained the most valuable thing: experience.

Four years later, this young swimmer challenged the might of Ian Thorpe again. Though he failed to overcome him in Men's 200 m freestyle, Michael Fred Phelps II had done the unthinkable. He was only 19, and he had won a staggering eight Olympic medals, including six Olympic golds. Phelps even set three national records, three new Olympic records, and two new world records in the races he participated in.

Then came the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Michael Phelps was the top favorite, and he did not disappoint. He won all 8 races he participated in, breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven Olympic gold medals to become the most decorated male Olympic swimmer of all time.

Michael Phelps finally quit swimming at Rio 2016, where he won five gold medals and two silver medals, to end up with 26 Olympic medals overall, of which 23 were gold.