**Records smashed… incredible athletic feats… Medals won… the top 40 Olympic athletes of all time are here!** In this fun, fact-packed book from the 40 Inspiring Icons series, learn how these athletic stars became the best in the world. Relive Usain Bolt’s astonishing record-breaking runs , learn about Charlotte Cooper, the first ever female Olympic champion , meet the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps , and see some of the most impressive wins in history. From Nawal El Moutawakel , the first female Muslim born on the continent of Africa to become an Olympic champion, to gymnastic prodigy Simone Biles , whose skills on the vault and the floor are admired all over the world, these are the 40 Olympic Athletes to be learned about by all : Spyrídon Loúis; Charlotte Cooper; Madge Syers; Jim Thorp; Paavo Nuurmi; Johnny Weissmuller; Mildred Didrickson; Jesse Owens; Marjorie Gestring; Francina Blankers-Koen; Micheline Ostermeyer; Emil Zatopek; Betty Cuthbert; Wilma Rudolph; Abebe Bikila; Tommie Smith; Bob Beamon; Mark Spitz; Nadia Comaneci; Sebastian Coe; Birgit Fisher; Daley Thompson; Nawal El Moutawakil; Carl Lewis; Steve Redgrave; Marie-Jo Pérec; Valentina Vezzali; Michael Johnson; Maria Mutola; Cathy Freeman; Yelena Isinbayeva; Michael Phelps; Tony Estanguet; Usain Bolt; Teddy Riner; Mo Farah; Isabell Werth; Simone Biles; Trisha Zorn; Michael Edgson; Ellie Simmonds; Jonas Jacobsson. Each spread presents a single athlete, highlighting key facts about their careers , honours , stats and legendary performances , along with a fun, illustrated depiction of them . Every athlete is a winner in their own way, but who will you choose as your hero? Each book in the 40 Inspiring Icons series introduces readers to a fascinating non-fiction subject through its 40 most famous people or groups. Explore these other great topics through their most interesting icons: People of Peace , Super Scientists , Soccer Stars , Music Legends , Black Music Greats and Greek Gods and Heroes .