#5. Mark Spitz

Olympics: 1968, 1972.

Event: Swimming.

Achievements: 9 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze.

Success Mantra: Be quick in changing your strategy and getting back on track if things are not going your way.

Spitz was determined to win six gold medals at the 1968 Mexico City games but could only win two relay team gold medals. It left him disappointed and he decided to achieve the feat in the coming Olympics. He geared up his training regime and decided to train himself under the legendary coach Doc Councilman. He came back four years later and achieved the feat of winning 7 gold medals in Munich games, the then world record.

#6. Carl Lewis

Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996.

Event: Track and Field.

Achievements: 9 gold, 1 silver.

Success Mantra: Always promote and sell yourself.

Lewis is the reason for giving track and field its mainstream status that it enjoys today. In his long career, he was very successful and thus received immense television exposure. It was because of his fame that top athletes could land up with perky endorsements and thus have long and lucrative careers.