Five Prominent Olympians Who Shaped the History of Sports

The Olympic Games have long been a stage for extraordinary athletes who have outperformed their sports to end up worldwide symbols. Among the various athletes who have dignified the Olympic stage, a few stand out for their unique achievements, legendary performance and enduring effects on the history of the games. Here are a few remarkable careers of five prominent Olympians who have cleared out enduring marks on Olympic history.

Michael Phelps - The Most Decorated Athlete of all Time

Micheal Phelps is widely regarded as one of the most decorated athletes and the greatest swimmer in Olympic History. As an American swimmer, he debuted at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and got his first Olympics medal, at the same event he achieved six gold and two bronzes at the end, establishing a new record for the highest number of gold medals earned by an individual athlete in a single Olympics. Phelps continued a remarkable success at the Beijing games 2008, where he dominated the field and achieved an unmatched feat by winning eight medals.   Phelp’s greatness expanded to the 2012 London Olympics, where he got four gold medals and silver medals added to his collection. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, his eminence continued where again he won five gold and one silver medal, added to his collections. Overall Olympics gold medal count is 23 and his total medal count is 28.  Phelp’s excellent versatility, productivity and dedication to the swimming made his troll a true legend of Olympians.

“There is no limit to anything. The more you attempt the farther you are” - Michael Phelps

Usain Bolt – The World’s Fastest Man  

Usain bolt the Jamaican sprinter has been considered as the fastest man that has ever been produced in this world with his speed and the way he moves along with his jovial attitude that has made the sprints also interesting. Bolt terribly stampeded into the scene by emerging winner in 100m, 200m and the 4X100m relay in Beijing Olympics.

He was doing very well in his work and I remember last week he scored up to 9 percent. It also has a time of 69 seconds in 100 meters and a 19. Recently, within 200 meters in 30 seconds, I once again watched the magnificent show of this man. He performed the same in the events he contested in at the 2012 London Olympics and cemented Bolt’s influence in the sports. He retired from the Olympics with a terrific performance at the Games held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 where he clinched gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meters relay to become the first to claim a triple-triple of gold medals. He was simply hilarious with his crazy speed and how he dominated the track, making him the Beyoncé of athletics – a role model for anyone who aspires to be fast.

“Kill them with success and bury them with smile” - Usain Bolt

Jesse Owens - The conquest of the Human Spirit

Jesse Owens, a famous athlete from the United States of America, who set multiple world records in track and field events and was known for civil rights activism during that era, especially during the given year Olympics held in Germany. An idea that Owens went to war against also this is by portraying Adolf Hilter’s Nazi Regime which sought to propagate Nordic superiority. But Owens really avoided these notions with great performances that included four gold medals in 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4 × 100m relays. His achievements were a forceful reply to racists and preconceived notions regarding blacks and any specific color that talent and hard work knows no barriers of racism or politics. The protagonist, Owen, finds himself in this city and achieves his dream which is postered as triumph and as a testimony of the absent force that is sport

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort” - Jesse Owens

Paavo Nurmi - The Flying Finn

The most iconic athlete of the early 20th century for middle and long distance running is Paavo Nurmi from Finland. He took part in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium as well as the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands where Nurmi clinched nine gold medals and three silver medals. All in all, perfect physical preparation and great racing tactics distinguished Nurmi as a unique athlete. At the 1924 Paris Olympics he won five gold medals, thus, in addition to the world records set by him, he also thereby demonstrated his versatility and endurance. From his great input in the field of long-distance running to the numerous medals he won and brought back home, Nurmi will always be remembered as one of the greatest Olympians to have ever lived.

“Mind is everything. Muscle-pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am Because of my mind” - Paavo Nurmi

Larisa Latynina - The Queen of Gymnastics

Larisa Latynina, a Soviet gymnast has won more twenty Olympic medals and some regard her to be among the most decorated of all time. Her Olympic career spanned three Games: There are, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, and 1964 Tokyo. Latynina earned a total of eighteen Olympic medals; nine of them are gold, five are silver and the rest of them four are bronze and this made her to be the most decorated female gymnast in Olympic games.

Latynina as a gymnast was known for her excellent ability, flexibility and steadiness when performing in a number of events. Silver stars achieved by her contributed to raising the popularity of gymnastics as a kind of sport and helped to develop new generations of the trainers and the dancers. Given the extent of Latynina’s record and her contribution towards the framing of gymnastics particularly at the Olympics level, her place in the history of Olympic gymnastics cannot be gainsaid.

Conclusion

These five Olympics have really contributed to the history of the Olympic Games by their performance, namely Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Jesse Owens, Paavo Nurmi and Larisa Latynina. All of them delivered outstanding performances coupled with the enshrinement of their experiences and challenges of disability in touching and motivating many people across the globe. The new history of the Olympics changes, but the performers’ outstanding results help people remember that sport is still a tool for unification and achievements’ appreciation.