Which female gymnast holds the record for the most Olympic medals?

Larisa Latynina holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by a female gymnast, with 18.

Competing for the Soviet Union, Latynina won those medals across three Olympic Games: Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, and Tokyo 1964. Her total includes nine gold medals, five silver, and four bronze. She medaled in nearly every event she entered, combining individual brilliance with strong team performances.

Her record stood for 48 years before Michael Phelps surpassed it in 2012. Simone Biles has also risen to 11 Olympic medals, but that remains below Latynina’s total. Věra Čáslavská, another era-defining gymnast, won 11 Olympic medals as well.

Latynina’s legacy extends beyond medal counting. She won the Olympic individual all-around title in 1956 and 1960, and she captured the floor exercise gold at three consecutive Olympics. After retiring, she coached the Soviet women’s team to Olympic success and helped organize gymnastics at Moscow 1980.