Ray Ewry

Raymond "Ray" Clarence Ewry (October 14, 1873 – September 29, 1937) was an American track and field athlete who won 8 gold medals at the Olympic Games and 2 gold medals at the Intercalated Games (1906 in Athens). This puts him among the most successful Olympians of all time. His eight Olympic gold medals in individual events (i.e. non-relay), although now second to Michael Phelps's 11, had held the record, all alone, for 100 years and 23 days—from July 23, 1908, until Michael Phelps won his eighth on August 15, 2008 (followed by his ninth on August 16).

And his record of winning three gold medals in one event, although it had subsequently been equaled by seven other athletes, was not surpassed for 60 years—from 1908 until Al Oerter won his fourth gold (discus throw) in 1968, a feat equaled by Carl Lewis when he won his fourth (long jump) in 1996.

Finally, his record of three gold medals in two events, set in July 1908 (standing long jump on July 20 and standing high jump on July 23), has never been surpassed and had for 104 years and 11 days not even been equaled—until in 2012 Michael Phelps won his third gold in the 100 meter butterfly on August 3, having won his third in the 200 meter individual medley on August 2.