List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games

A small fraction of the world's population ever competes at the Olympic Games; an even smaller fraction ever competes in multiple Games. 515 athletes (127 women, 388 men) have participated in at least five Olympics from Athens 1896 to Rio 2016, but excluding the 1906 Intercalated Games. Just over a hundred of these have gone on to make at least a sixth Olympic appearance.

Several athletes would have made more appearances at the Olympics but for reasons out of their control, such as World Wars (no Olympics were held in 1916, 1940 or 1944), politically motivated boycotts, financial difficulties, or ill-timed injuries.

Canadian equestrian athlete Ian Millar has competed at ten Olympic games. Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl and Latvian shooter Afanasijs Kuzmins (representing Soviet Union until 1988) have each made nine Olympic appearances.

Well over half of six-time Olympians belong to the shooting, equestrian, sailing and fencing disciplines, which are known for allowing athletes more longevity at the elite level. Athletics and cross-country skiing also provide a large number of athletes who have competed at five Olympics.

This table shows the number of athletes who have appeared at exactly (or at least) n Olympic Games between 1896 and 2016, as n varies from 5 to 10. For example, 13 men have appeared at exactly seven Olympics while 21 men have appeared at at least seven Olympics. Appearances at the 1906 Intercalated Games are not included. Winter and Summer Olympics are counted as 'different' Olympics even if they occurred in the same year. While these numbers are believed to be correct, it is possible that one or two athletes have been missed, particularly with five-time Olympians.

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