10 Most Unbreakable Olympic Records in History: Usain Bolt, Phelps, and More

Top 10 Unbreakable Olympic Records: The Olympic Games are a celebration of the pinnacle of human athletic achievement. Over the decades, athletes have pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible, setting records that many consider unbreakable.

Some records stand for a few years. Others stand for decades. Many records will fall at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. But a handful of Olympic records are so incredibly eye-popping that the likelihood of them ever being broken seems as close to zero as mathematically possible.

List of 10 Most Unbreakable Olympic Records

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most remarkable and unbreakable Olympic records in history.

1. Usain Bolt’s 100m and 200m Sprints

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is widely regarded as the fastest man in the world. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bolt set the world record in the 100m dash with a time of 9.69 seconds. He then followed that up by setting the world record in the 200m dash with a time of 19.30 seconds at the 2012 London Olympics.

These records are considered near-impossible to break due to the sheer dominance Bolt displayed. He won gold medals in both events at three consecutive Olympic Games, cementing his status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Bolt’s combination of raw speed, technique, and consistency make his sprint records seem unattainable for the foreseeable future.

2. Michael Phelps’ 28 Olympic Medals

Michael Phelps won the 23rd gold medal of his Olympic career at the 2016 Rio Games. The American standout swimmer clinched a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games. Phelps dominated over 80% of the events he participated in throughout his Olympic career, amassing a total of 28 medals.

Phelps’ record for most Olympic medals won by an individual is unlikely to be broken anytime soon. The sheer number of events he competed in and his ability to win multiple medals at each Olympics is a feat that may never be replicated. Phelps’ swimming prowess and his longevity at the top of the sport make his Olympic medal haul a truly unbreakable record.

3. Jesse Owens’ 4 Gold Medals in 1936

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, American sprinter Jesse Owens achieved a remarkable feat by winning four gold medals—in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay. Owens’ performance was a powerful rebuke to the Nazi regime’s claims of Aryan superiority and remains one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

Owens’ four gold medals in a single Olympics is a record that has only been matched by a handful of athletes, including Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt. The incredible versatility and dominance Owens displayed across multiple sprint and field events make this a record that is unlikely to be broken in the near future.

4. Carl Lewis’ 9 Olympic Gold Medals

American track and field athlete Carl Lewis is one of the most decorated Olympians of all time, with 10 medals (9 gold, 1 silver) across four consecutive Olympic Games. His nine gold medals, won between 1984 and 1996, are a testament to his sustained excellence and dominance in sprinting and long jump events. Lewis’ ability to maintain his peak performance over such a long period of time is a feat that may never be equaled.

5. Nadia Comăneci’s Perfect 10s

Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics by becoming the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10.0. She went on to achieve a total of seven perfect 10s during the competition, a feat that has never been matched. Comăneci’s technical mastery and consistency in a sport where perfection is the goal make her perfect 10s an unbreakable record.

6. Al Oerter’s 4 Consecutive Gold Medals in Discus

American discus thrower Al Oerter won four consecutive gold medals in the discus throw, from 1956 to 1968. This achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that Oerter overcame several injuries and setbacks during his career, yet still managed to maintain his dominance in the event for over a decade. Oerter’s unparalleled consistency and ability to perform at the highest level over such a long period of time make this record truly unbreakable.

7. Eddie Tolan’s 100m and 200m Sprints

American sprinter Eddie Tolan set the world records in both the 100m and 200m events at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. His times of 10.3 seconds in the 100m and 20.7 seconds in the 200m were considered unbreakable for decades, as they were achieved during a time when track and field technology and training methods were far less advanced than they are today. Tolan’s records stand as a testament to his raw speed and explosive power.

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8. Larisa Latynina’s 18 Olympic Medals

Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a staggering 18 medals (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) across three Olympic Games. Her ability to excel in both individual and team events, as well as her longevity at the top of the sport, make her medal haul an incredible and unbreakable record.

9. Dawn Fraser’s 3 Consecutive 100m Freestyle Golds

Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser is the only swimmer in history to win the same individual event (the 100m freestyle) at three consecutive Olympic Games, from 1956 to 1964. Fraser’s dominance of the event during this era, combined with the highly competitive nature of Olympic swimming, make her three consecutive gold medals in the 100m freestyle an unbreakable record.

10. Team USA’s 239 medals at the 1904 Olympics

The United States made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first country to accumulate 1,000 gold medals since the first modern Olympics opened in 1896. The U.S. leads all nations with 1,183 gold medals (2,985 total) entering the 2024 Paris Games.

The next closest country is the combined total of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, with 473 gold medals and a total of 1204 medals. However, it’s virtually impossible to break the record for the number of medals won by a country at a single Olympics. The United States won 239 medals (78 gold, 82 silver, and 79 bronze) at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, which accounted for nearly 85% of all available medals that summer.

Summary

The Olympic Games have witnessed some of the most remarkable athletic achievements in human history. The records discussed in this article stand as shining examples of true greatness, and they are unlikely to be broken anytime soon. From Usain Bolt’s sprinting dominance to Larisa Latynina’s unparalleled gymnastics success, these unbreakable Olympic records inspire awe and admiration in fans and athletes alike.