Larissa Latynina, 77 years old, was present at the 2012 London Olympics when her record was broken. She wanted to present the medal to Phelps herself, but the International Olympic Committee did not grant an exception to their rules to permit that to happen.
1964 - Larissa Latynina
Gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics
Ukrainian gymnast Larissa Latynina, representing the USSR, competes in the women's compulsory exercises. She won six medals at the Tokyo games (two gold, two silver, two bronze), bringing her total to 18, and becoming the Olympian with the most medals (18), a record that stood until 2012, when a male swimmer, Mark Phelps, won a 19th medal.
Larysa Latynina at the Tokyo Olympics
Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty ImagesWomen and the Olympics
Great Women of the Summer OlympicsWomen Skating ChampionsPherenice of Rhodes
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