What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
A former Soviet gymnast, Larisa Latynina won 18 Olympic medals from 1956 to 1964, including nine gold medals. Her 18 Olympic medals were a record for 48 years.
Competing in the Winter Olympics from 2002 to 2018, Norway's Marit Bjørgen has won a total of 15 medals, including eight gold medals.
Nikolai Andrianov was a Russian gymnast who competed for the Soviet Union, winning a total of 15 Olympic medals. He has won more Olympic medals than any other male gymnast in history.
Having swam to the top, Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. The American swimmer won 23 gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.
Sources: (Britannica) (Olympics) (NBC)
Edoardo Mangiarotti was an Italian fencer who won six gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. He competed in the 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960 games.
The former track and field athlete has won nine Olympic gold medals and one Olympic silver medal for the American team.
Ole Einar Bjørndalen is a retired Norwegian biathlete with 13 Winter Olympic Medals under his belt.
Boris Shakhlin was a Soviet gymnast who won a total of 13 medals, including seven gold medals at the Olympics. He was the most successful athlete at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Ireen Wüst is a Dutch former long track speed skater who won six gold, five silver, and two bronze Winter Olympic medals between 2006 and 2022.
Takashi Ono is a retired Japanese gymnast who competed at the 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics. He won five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals.
Birgit Fischer is a kayaker for the German team. She won 12 Olympic medals, including eight gold medals over six different Olympic Games.
The Norwegian cross-country skier won eight gold and four silver medals in the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics.
Paavo Nurmi was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. Known as the Flying Finn, he dominated distance running in the '20s. He won nine gold and four silver medals at the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Olympics.
The former Japanese gymnast won 12 Olympic medals, including eight gold medals, between 1968 and 1976.
Carl Osburn was an American sport shooter who competed in the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Summer Olympics, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals. Five of them were gold.
American swimmer Jenny Thompson is one of the most decorated Olympians in history. She has won 12 medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.
Dara Torres is a 12-time Olympic medalist and the first swimmer to represent the US in five Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008).
Another well-decorated American swimmer, Ryan Lochte has won 12 Olympic medals, including four gold medals.
One of the most successful equestrians, Germany's Isabell Werth has won 12 Olympic medals. She has competed in six Olympics, from 1992 to 2020.
The American former competition swimmer is a 12-time Olympic medalist. She won three gold, four silver, and five bronze medals.
Alexei Nemov is a former Russian gymnast who won 12 Olympic medals. He competed in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics.
Mark Spitz is a former swimmer who won nine gold, one silver, and one bronze Olympic medals. He was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, winning seven gold medals.
The American swimmer is an 11-time Olympic medalist, winning eight gold. Biondi competed in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984, 1988, and 1992.
Věra Čáslavská was a Czech gymnast who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1960, 1964, and 1969 Summer Olympics. She won a total of 11 medals, including seven gold and four silver.
Allyson Felix is a retired track and field athlete who won a total of 11 Olympic medals, including seven gold medals for Team USA.
The Italian woman with the most Olympic medals, Arianna Fontana is a short-track speed skater who has won 11 Olympic medals, including two gold medals.
Viktor Chukarin was a Ukrainian gymnast who competed for the Soviet Union. He won 11 medals, including seven gold medals.
Emma McKeon is an Australian swimmer with 14 Olympic medals, including six gold medals. With that impressive record, she became Australia's most decorated Olympian.
American swimmer Katie Ledecky has won a total of 14 Olympic medals, including nine gold, four silver, and a bronze. She's widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all time.
Regarded as the greatest Olympic swordsman ever, Aladár Gerevich was a Hungarian fencer who won a total of 10 Olympic medals, including seven gold medals.
The USA secured the top spot on the podium in the team gymnastics finals, adding another gold medal to Simone Biles' growing collection. The star athlete is the most decorated gymnast in US history, with 11 Olympic medals. Biles has now won seven gold, two silver, and two bronze Olympic medals.
Since the start of the modern Olympics in 1896, thousands of athletes have competed in the games. Some managed to score one gold medal during their athletic careers, while others were so good that they won several Olympic medals. The most decorated Olympic athletes of all time tend to compete in disciplines with multiple events, including individual and team opportunities to win medals, such as swimming, gymnastics, and track and field.
Click on for a look at the top 31 athletes who won the most Olympic medals ever.
Olympic titans: The most decorated athletes of all time
The all-time greats who have dominated their categories
LIFESTYLE Olympic games
Since the start of the modern Olympics in 1896, thousands of athletes have competed in the games. Some managed to score one gold medal during their athletic careers, while others were so good that they won several Olympic medals. The most decorated Olympic athletes of all time tend to compete in disciplines with multiple events, including individual and team opportunities to win medals, such as swimming, gymnastics, and track and field.
Click on for a look at the top 31 athletes who won the most Olympic medals ever.