Gold medals Year Record duration Athlete Nation Sport(s) Games Sex 4 1896 1896–1904 Carl Schuhmann Germany Gymnastics, Wrestling Summer M 1900 1900–1904 Alvin Kraenzlein United States Athletics Summer M 5 1904 1904–1972 Anton Heida United States Gymnastics Summer M 1920 1920–1972 Nedo Nadi Italy Fencing Summer M 1920 1920–1972 Willis A. Lee United States Shooting Summer M 1924 1924–1972 Paavo Nurmi Finland Athletics Summer M 7 1972 1972–2008 Mark Spitz United States Swimming Summer M 8 2008 2008–present Michael Phelps United States Swimming Summer M