Mary Lou Retton
In 1984 the 16-year-old high school sophomore scored perfect 10s in the vault and floor exercise to win the all-around gymnastics gold medal.
Usain Bolt
The Jamaican sprinted to smash three world records, including one of his own previously set 100m record. We are resisting the urge to use all the lightning bolt puns.
Carl Lewis
The American repeated Jesse Owens' 1936 record of winning four gold medals in track and field, reigned supreme in 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay and long jump. Boom.
Muhammad Ali
During the 1996 Atlanta opening ceremony the heavyweight champ and 1960 Olympic gold medalist surprised the audience by lighting the stadium flame.
Michael Phelps
What can you say? The boy likes gold. The swimmer took home a billion eight gold medals from Beijing in 2008 to add to his collection of six gold medals from Athens in 2004.
Dream Team
The 1992 United States Men's Basketball team—a veritable who's who of NBA players—crushed the competition to take the gold.
Bruce Jenner
Before he was an E! reality star, this decathlete crossed the finish line of the 1500m to clinch the gold medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Derek Redmond
After snapping his hamstring, this British runner leaned on his father and limped across the finish line.
Nadia Comăneci
The first female gymnast to ever receive a perfect 10 score, this 14-year-old Romanian brought home three gold medals from the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Kerri Strug
After injuring her ankle during her first vault attempt, the 17-year-old gymnast landed her second jump—and securing the U.S. team gold—before collapsing on the mat. Don't tell us you didn't cry when her coach, Béla Károlyi, carried her onto the podium.