• Paavo Nurmi. The "Flying Finn" won the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs with 26 minutes of rest between them in 1924, then won three more gold medals in distance races (two of them for team placement). He probably would have won the 10,000-meter race, as well, but Finnish team officials feared for his health and refused to enter him in the race. Later that season, he set the world record in the 10,000 and then won that race in the Olympics four years later. Medal count: 9 gold, 3 silver. He planned to run in the '32 Games, but was banned for competition because it was decided he had violated the rules of "amateurism" by accepting too much money for traveling expenses.

• Emil Zatopek. A Czech, he won the 5,000, 10,000 and marathon in the '52 Olympics, and nobody knew about blood doping in those days. It's a ridiculous distance-running triple crown. He also won the 5,000 four years earlier.

• Larissa Latynina. She won a record 18 medals (9 gold) in three Olympics in gymnastics, a sport that is brutal on the body.

• Al Oerter. A legendary Olympic figure who had an uncanny ability to respond to pressure and competition, he won the discus in four straight Olympics with four Olympic records. He overcame auto accidents, an injured neck that required him to wear a special harness, favored opponents, and coming from behind.

• Jesse Owens. Another iconic figure, he won four golds in Hitler's 1936 Olympics.

• Michael Phelps. Enough said.

• Mark Spitz. He won seven golds with seven world records in the 1972 Games.

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E-mail: drob@desnews.com