2024 Olympics: 10 best athletes of the 21st century

1. Michael Phelps - Swimming

Main achievements: Record 28 Olympic medals; 23 Olympic gold medals; most gold medals at one Olympics (Beijing 2008).

At Beijing 2008, Phelps won eight gold medals, more than any other athlete in a single Olympics, and broke world records in seven of the eight events. Fans and media have tried to decipher what makes Phelps so unstoppable. His mother, Debbie Phelps, was in Beijing and frequently answered questions from the media about whether the feat was due to his 16-inch feet, his unusually long arms, or his special diet. "No," Debbie replied. "It was Michael's hard work."

2. Simone Biles - Gymnastics

Main achievements: 7 Olympic medals, 4 Olympic gold medals.

Since winning her first national title in 2013, Biles has gone undefeated in the all-around in every competition she has competed in, an incredible feat in a sport where athletes typically retire in their teens.

3. Usain Bolt - Athletics

Main achievements: 8 times Olympic gold medalist, 100m world record, only track and field athlete to win Olympic gold medals in 100m and 200m in 3 consecutive events.

In the 100m semi-finals at Rio 2016, Bolt’s fourth and final Olympics, he turned and smiled, almost mockingly, at his three pursuers before the race was over. It was one of the most memorable images of Bolt’s career. His 2009 world record for the 100m (9.58 seconds) still stands today.

4. Katie Ledecky - Swimming

Main achievements: 10 Olympic medalists, 7 Olympic gold medalists, a record 21 world championship gold medals, world records in the 800m freestyle and 1,500m freestyle.

Ledecky has dominated the world's "green track" for more than a decade. The 27-year-old is expected to win gold again in Paris, where she is a top contender in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 4 x 200m relay.

5. Mikaela Shiffrin - Skiing

Main achievements: 3x Olympic medalist, 2x Olympic gold medalist, record 96 World Cup wins.

On March 11, 2023, Shiffrin conquered a record that had consumed countless skiers’ careers and time for 34 years. She won her 87th World Cup that day, surpassing the long-standing record of Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark.

6. Allyson Felix - Athletics

Main achievements: 11 Olympic medalists, 7 Olympic gold medalists, record 18 world champions.

A closer look at Felix's seven Olympic gold medals reveals another side to her success. In a sport defined by individual success, she may also be the greatest team player in history. Felix won six of her seven Olympic gold medals as a relay.

7. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - Athletics

Main achievements: 8 Olympic medalists, 3 Olympic gold medalists, record 5 100m world champions.

The day after Usain Bolt won the 100m at Beijing 2008, Fraser-Pryce became the first female athlete from the Caribbean to win Olympic gold in the event. Four years later, she defended her title in the 100m (like Bolt), further cementing Jamaica's reputation as an athletics powerhouse.

8. Kohei Uchimura - Gymnastics

Main achievements: 7-time Olympic medalist, 3-time Olympic gold medalist, 6-time individual all-around world champion.

During the eight years from 2009 to 2016, Uchimura dominated men's gymnastics, going undefeated in the all-around, winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals, and leading the Japanese team to gold at the Rio Olympics.

9. Yuzuru Hanyu - Figure Skating

Main achievements: 2 consecutive Olympic gold medals (2014, 2018), 7 medals at the World Championships.

At his peak, Hanyu was not only a figure skater but also a rock star. Fans followed him around the world, carrying Winnie the Pooh toys because he often brought a box of Pooh tissues to competitions.

10. Aliya Mustafina - Gymnastics

Main achievements: 7 times Olympic medalist, 2 times Olympic gold medalist, 11 times world champion.

Before Simone Biles emerged, Russia's Aliya Mustafina was number one. She burst onto the scene at just 16 to win the world championship in 2010. She then went on to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals on beam in 2012 and 2016.

In addition to the 10 names mentioned above, the list of the greatest Olympic athletes in the 21st century also includes Natalie Coughlin (Swimming, 3-time Olympic gold medalist), Ian Thorpe (Swimming, 5-time Olympic gold medalist), Aly Raisman (Gymnastics, 3-time Olympic gold medalist), Valentina Vezzali (Fencing, 6-time Olympic gold medalist), Eliud Kipchoge (Marathon, 2-time Olympic gold medalist), Jason Kenny (Cycling, 7-time Olympic gold medalist).