The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially termed the Games of the 31st Olympiad, and commonly called Rio 2016, is the world's largest multi-sport event that is scheduled to to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21.
As the mega event is about to kickstart in a week, let us have a look at the some of the interesting statistics.
Top 5 athletes of Olympics:
Following are the athletes who have got the highest number of medals up to the London Olympics 2012. This top five is based on the highest number of gold medals won by each individual.
Michael Phelps: This evergreen swimmer still is in the No.1 spot with 22 medals to his name (18 golds, 2 silver and 2 bronze). Phelps is the world record holder in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley as well as the former world record holder in the 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley. He has won a total of 77 medals in major international competitions, totalling 61 gold, 13 silver, and 3 bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships.
Larisa Latynina: This Soviet Union gymnast is the second best with 18 medals (9 golds, 5 silver and 4 bronze). Between 1956 and 1964 she won 14 individual Olympic medals and four team medals. Her total of 18 Olympic medals was a record for 48 years until surpassed by Michael Phelps on July 31, 2012. Although Phelps broke her total medal count record, her record for individual event medals (14) still stands. She is credited with helping to establish the Soviet Union as a dominant force in gymnastics.
Paavo Nurmi: This Finland athlete is third in the list with 12 medals (9 golds and 3 silver). He was nicknamed the "Flying Finn" as he dominated distance running. Nurmi set 22 official world records at distances between 1500 metres and 20 kilometres. At his peak, Nurmi was undefeated at distances from 800 m upwards for 121 races. Throughout his 14-year career, he remained unbeaten in cross country events and the 10,000 m.
Mark Spitz: This swimmer from the US is fourth with 11 medals (9 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze). This nine-time Olympic champion is a former world record-holder in seven events. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics, an achievement surpassed by Michael Phelps, who won eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Spitz set new world records in all seven events in which he competed in 1972, an achievement that still stands.
Sawao Kato: This gymnast from Japan has 12 medals (8 golds, 3 silver and 1 bronze) to his name. Kato is one of the athletes to have won eight or more Olympic gold medals. He is one of the most successful male gymnasts ever at the Olympics. In 2001 Kato was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
